Here is my eagerly awaited New Year’s List of the most infuriating things partner can do: 1. Bid ridiculously to game, get doubled, go for a telephone number and say: ‘Sorry, partner, I could have made that.’ 2. Double the opps into game, and when it makes, as it ALWAYS does, say ‘Sorry, partner, I
The fourth London Classic at Olympia, organised by the indefatigable Malcolm Pein, was the strongest of the series including, as it did, the reigning world champion, a former world champion and the current world ranked no. 1. In addition, the contest was graced by the strongest ever female player, Judith Polgar. Final scores, based on three
In Competition No. 2779 you were invited to submit Maud’s reply to Tennyson. It was Joyce Grenfell’s magnificently ball-breaking riposte to the invitation to ‘Come into the garden, Maud’ that inspired the challenge, and in general your responses referenced this section of the poem. You were on equally feisty form, having little truck with the
The first prize of £100, three prizes of £25 and six further prizes of the Chambers Crossword Dictionary are awarded to the following. The first four prizewinners will, in addition, each receive a bottle of champagne. First prize Seamus McNeill, Belfast Runners-up Ms H. Piper, Chessington, Surrey; Sue Topham, Elston, Newark; Rhidian Llewellyn,
The unclued lights (one of three words, one of two words and three doubly hyphened) might be named in a given order. Across 11 A large one, with fruit syrup in place of fruit (9) 12 What might go with rugby league? (5) 14 Respect the creeps (4) 15 ‘Slipper’, and what it ’asn’t
DING DONG MERRILY ON HIGH (2A), SEE AMID THE WINTER’S SNOW (118), ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY (1) and WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED (19) are the opening words of Christmas carols, as are ‘I saw three ships come sailing in’. SIGHT (53) and ROUND WINDOW (8/92) each define ‘eye’, which sounds like ‘I’; GANG (39), PIT
White to play. This position is a variation from Kramnik-McShane, London Chess Classic 2012. How can Kramnik finish off the badly exposed black king? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 15 January or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out
