There was a particularly juicy deal during the recent European Open Mixed Teams in Ostend, which led to many pairs bidding and making a grand slam. My teammates, however, were prevented from reaching even a small slam when the Swedish player Peter Fredin made a devilish psychic bid against them. After two passes to him,
Although he has never won the World Championship, Vassily Ivanchuk is the scourge of the world’s elite. In his day he has defeated Karpov, Kasparov, Anand, Carlsen and Topalov, usually in spectacular victories. A new book, which I highly recommend, catalogues Ivanchuk’s most impressive wins, accompanied by outstandingly deep and instructive annotations. White: Vassily
In Competition 2806 you were invited to submit alternative endings for well-known novels or poems. A Farewell to Arms, The Special Edition, gives Hemingway fans the opportunity to look at the 47 alternative endings that he played with before making what was clearly an agonising choice. Some are more blunt, some more optimistic than
The nine unclued lights (including two of two words) form three groups of three: two of the three groups each contain words of a kind; the final group makes up a four-word title. The theme word which links the groups must be highlighted in the final grid. Ignore three accents. Across 1 Prepare
The full quotation was ‘Mother, GIVE ME THE SUN’ (14/7) from Ghosts by HENRIK IBSEN (29/1D). Remaining unclued lights give ME THE SUN: MI/RA (12), MOI/RA (24), MOI/RE (25) and MI/RE (39). GHOSTS (in the ninth row) was to be shaded. First prize Pamela Moorey, London EC1 Runners-up A. & P. James, Winchester, Hants; Kenneth
White to play. This position is from Ivanchuk-Kramnik, Moscow Blitz 2007. What is the most accurate way for White to continue? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 23 July or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat,
