The Hacketts are probably the best known bridge-playing family in the world. They live in Manchester but travel constantly — you’ll see at least one Hackett pop up at any tournament. There’s patriarch Paul, a lifelong bridge professional and part of the England Seniors Team who just can’t stop winning world and European championships. There
Boris Gulko, celebrated both as a grandmaster and a former Soviet dissident, has recently completed his great trilogy of instructional volumes. They make exclusive use of the instructional value of Gulko’s own victories, which include probably more victories against Kasparov, when compared to losses, than any other major player. Lessons with a Grandmaster, Volume 3
In Competition No. 2900 you were invited to write a short story that ends on a condiment of your choice. The germ of this comp was the writer Richard Brautigan’s wish to end a short story with the word ‘mayonnaise’, an ambition he fulfilled in his 1967 novel Trout Fishing in America. Actually, strictly speaking,
The theme word is 29 down, which defines each of the other unclued lights (including one of two words) in one way or another. All unclued lights are entered in a thematically appropriate manner. Across 1 A posh French novelist covers good French region (8) 6 Divine sun? Relax, it’s most excellent (6) 10
‘THE OLD ORDER CHANGETH YIELDING PLACE TO NEW’, from Tennyson’s IDYLLS OF THE KING, suggests the outcome of ANAGRAMMATISM (2). ALFRED LORD TENNYSON is an anagram of 9/20/22/38. Title: anagram of THE OLD ORDER. First prize Michael Smith, Aldershot, Hants Runners-up Dr J.A. McClellan, Portsmouth, Hants; A.C.R. Bull, Canterbury, Kent
Black to play. This is from Caruana-Jakovenko, Khanty-Mansiysk 2015. Black is winning -easily, but can you find the most accurate continuation, which forces mate in six moves at the most? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 9 June or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will
