My friend Ollie Burgess has just made the bold move of quitting his job in Manchester, and moving to London to manage the Young Chelsea Bridge Club. Ollie is a fantastic player, as well as being popular and dynamic — exactly what’s needed. The YC is much loved by its members, but its numbers have
Nothing courts us so nimbly as technology. Perhaps the chess computers have already won you over — I am dazzled by the riches they have revealed. For a jaw-dropping sense of wonder, try playing over a forced mate in 549 moves. Still, many yearn for a simpler time. A time when the mysteries of chess
Black to play. Jones–McShane, London Chess Classic 2019. Last year I played two games of no-castling chess with Gawain Jones, each of us winning one. Here, Jones has won a pawn, but his pieces are scattered. Which move won me the game? Email answers to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 21 September. There is a prize of
In Competition No. 3166 you were invited to supply a poem either celebrating or lamenting the cancellation of Philadelphia’s annual naked cycle ride. This enormously popular event, whose aim is to promote body positivity and eco-awareness, sees throngs of cyclists, in varying degrees of undress (total nudity optional), complete a ten-mile course around the streets
Unclued lights are ten words taken from a poem quoted in ODQ. The poet’s name (two words) will appear diagonally in the completed grid and must be shaded. Across 1 Raise a fuss about street urchins (8) 11 Mercury, say, in the sky (7) 12 Joanna shrinks following advance of insects (5) 13 Musician’s fine
The perimeter quotation is from Mahler. Remaining unclued lights were names of symphonies: 12A Mahler / Schubert; 26A Haydn; 39A Britten; 11D Liszt; 18D Beethoven. ‘Titan’, the name of Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, was to be highlighted. First prize Margaret Lusk, Preston, Lancs Runners-up David Heath, Elston, Newark; Mrs S. Arnold, London SW9
