To get good results at bridge, it’s not enough to play well — your opponents need to play badly; and if they won’t oblige, you’ll need to help them along. Some players do this the unethical way: they try to intimidate their opponents with officious behaviour, or else create a whirlwind of jollity designed to
On Saturday 8 November the first game will be played in the three-week long rematch between defending world champion Magnus Carlsen and the man from whom he took the title last year, Indian grandmaster Viswanathan Anand. When Carlsen seized the title from Anand in Chennai last year, the magnitude of his victory was so immense
In Competition No. 2872 you were invited to submit an author’s acknowledgments page that contains subtle indications that no thanks at all are due to those mentioned. E.E. Cummings does the anti-dedication in style in his 1935 volume No Thanks, which he self-published with financial help from his mother. Its dedication page contains a concrete
The ten unclued lights consist of a theme word and three groups of three answers of a kind, each group relating differently to the theme word. Unchecked and cross-checking letters in these answers could make TAX AUDITOR APPROVE. Across 1 Cuttingly, John dissects fancy style (8) 10 Escape with loot is dicey in
Unclued lights each contained a different TREY (20) from the alphabet: AFGHAN (24), CANOPY (27), DINGHIES (42), DABCHICK (1D), HYMNODY (5), KARSTIFY (6), ASTUTE (10), CALMNESS (26) and MADEFY (30D). The title suggested KLM. First prize Mrs R. Hales, Ilfracombe, Devon Runners-up E. Reuben, New Barnet, London;R. Hainsworth, Clapham, Lancaster
White to play. This position is from Carlsen-Anand, Amber Rapidplay 2008. White is a pawn ahead but Black has counterplay. How did White now increase his material advantage with a tactical shot? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 11 November or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The
