The bridge world championships are underway in Wuhan in China, and I’m obsessively following the action online. Fortunately it’s taking place in a different time zone, which means play is over by midday UK time, and I can emerge from my bunker. What makes it even more compelling is knowing all the England players —
I am often asked which players I admire most and which grandmasters, writers and champions exerted the most influence on my own chess development. In general I was most impressed by the strategists and writers such as Richard Réti, whose games were brilliantly elucidated in an anthology by grandmaster emeritus Harry Golombek OBE, and Aron
In Competition No. 3116 you were invited to submit an extract from a government memo whose language would meet with the approval of Jacob Rees-Mogg. The Leader of the House recently sent his departmental staff a list of rules regarding grammar and vocabulary. The words ‘ongoing’ and ‘hopefully’ are out; imperial measurements are in. All
The unclued lights (including one of three words, two of two words, and a pair) are names for or are connected with a character. Two further four-letter names hidden in one row must be highlighted. Across 1 Discharge sailor to work out (7) 6 New mums with potential addition (7) 11 Bravo, cool dude (6, two words)
The unclued lights were all leaders of the USSR. First prize Wendy Atkin, Sleaford, Lincs Runners-up Robert Burgon, North Berwick, East Lothian; Sandra Speak, Dursley, Glos
White to play. This is from Nguyen-Alekseenko, Khanty-Mansiysk 2019. White’s queen and rook are both attacked. How does he maintain material parity? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 24 September or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a
