The Alt Invitational is a prestigious online teams tournament held every fortnight or so, packed with world-class players. It’s not easy to secure a place, but my friend Jonathan Harris managed it for the first time last week. Things didn’t start well for his 11-strong team, and by Thursday morning, after four days of play,
It is nigh on seven months since I sat opposite a flesh and blood opponent, so I expected to feel unusual playing my first games in the Schachbundesliga, Germany’s team competition. I had no special concern on grounds of health. German case numbers look (relatively) low, the playing hall was cavernous, to facilitate social distancing,
White to play. A variation from L’Ami–Caruana, Bundesliga 2020. Caruana avoided this position, where White can force a quick mate. White should begin with a check, but which one? 1 h8=Q+, 1 Ne6+, or 1 Ne4+? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 5 October. There is a prize of £20 for the first
In Competition No. 3168 you were invited to compose a response on the part of a well-known writer to an inappropriate suggestion about the future direction of their work. This Austen-inspired challenge produced a terrific entry, so high fives to you all. Dorothy Pope’s Philip Larkin, giving short shrift to the suggestion that he venture
The unclued entries, all across, are unconnected words from Chambers. Each requires a letter added to render them thematic, and these letters, in order, give a hypothetical venue where they could all then meet. Across 8 Give a hand to a grand opera (4)11 Where Raleigh studied El Greco, and Ollie messed about (12, two
In George Orwell’s 1984 WINSTON SMITH (31/3) worked for the MINISTRY of TRUTH (43/21). The MINISTRY of LOVE (43/34) got him for THOUGHT CRIME (24/35) and sent him to ROOM 101 (28). He finally gave in to BIG BROTHER (15). First prize Clare Robinson, SheffieldRunners-up Ian Laming, Chippenham, Wiltshire; Brenda Widger, Bowdon, Cheshire
