You either love rubber bridge or you hate it. Personally I love it: I love the freedom it gives you to play when it suits you. I love the fact that you play with and against different players, which certainly keeps you alert and hones your ‘table presence’. I love the fact that it gives
Last week in a perceptive piece for the Times, Will Pavia animadverted upon the fact that the USA appears to be actively recruiting top chess grandmasters. Pavia focused on attempts to persuade world-ranked no. 2 Fabiano Caruana to defect from representing Italy, and switch allegiance to the USA. Even more indicative has been the effort
In Competition No. 2889 you were invited to submit an extract from an imaginary novel written from the perspective of a female chauvinist author. There are man-haters everywhere, it seems, from children’s telly to high culture. Charges of sexism have been levelled against the creators of the Daddy Pig character in Peppa Pig. Daddy is
The unclued lights are of a kind; the ones Across are one theme, and those Down (one of two words) on another related theme. Solvers must highlight another ‘Down’ theme-word hidden diagonally in the final grid. Across 1 Patching tatty topper for bed (8) 12 Triumphant delight returning pie to roofless depot
White to play. This is from Pillsbury-Tarrasch, Hastings 1895. White has only one move to bring his kingside attack to a successful conclusion before Black lands on the other wing. Can you see it? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 24 March or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681
