White to play. This position is from Robbins-Smith, Varsity Match 1972. The black king has been drawn out into the open. What is the quickest way for White to finish off? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 11 March or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner
This week I pay tribute to the chess grandmasters from Ukraine, led by Vassily Ivanchuk, many times a candidate for the world championship. Ukraine occupies an honourable place in the history of chess, for example winning the gold medals in the chess Olympiad of 2010, held in one of the World Chess Federation’s favourite venues,
White to play. This position is from Moiseenko-Noah, Khanty-Mansisk Olympiad 2010. Even though the game is not yet out of the opening, Black has already blundered. What did White now play? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 4 March or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner
Three important tournaments concluded this month, for two of which (Gibraltar and Bunratty) I attended the awards ceremonies. I have already given the results of Zurich. The most impressive game, the concluding phase of which provided last week’s puzzle, was Magnus Carlsen’s victory against Fabiano Caruana. We join the game just before Carlsen sacrifices rook for
White to play. This position is from Keogh-Chevannes, Bunratty 2014. How did White’s massive central build-up transform into a winning breakthrough? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 25 February 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,
George Osborne is a supporter of chess. During the award ceremony at 11 Downing St for last year’s London Candidates’ tournament, he told me that as a teenager he attended the Kasparov v. Karpov world championship at London’s Park Lane Hotel in 1986, which I assisted in organising. Appropriately, the Tory party chairman Sir Jeremy
White to play. This position is from Carlsen-Caruana, Zurich 2014. White’s pin against the black rook and the passed pawn on d7 are the key components of his winning combination. What did he play? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 18 February or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681
Daniel Johnson, the distinguished editor of Standpoint magazine, can be bracketed with Tim Congdon and Dominic Lawson, as having had the potential to become a chess master. All three chose other courses in economics, journalism and politics. Daniel, in particular, has faced world-class opposition in simultaneous displays, having drawn with Garry Kasparov and defeated the
White to play. This is from Johnson-Finch, Marlow 1974. White is building up a strong attack on the kingside and his next move was a brilliant way to create insurmountable threats. What did he play? Answers to me by Tuesday 11 February or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The
In Virgil’s Aeneid the hero Aeneas escapes from Hades via one of two gates, one made of ivory and the other of horn. It is widely believed that he selected the wrong gate. As Homer had already established, the gate of ivory, which Aeneas chose, portends false visions, while the gate of horn heralds true
Black to play. This position is from Aronian-Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 2014. Having already clinched first prize, Aronian’s only loss came in the last round when he fell into a diabolical trap. What has he missed? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 4 February or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax
As promised, this week a victory by chess aficionado Dominic Lawson, former editor of The Spectator. Dominic’s distinguished opponent was Peter Lee, who has been British champion in both chess and bridge — a unique achievement I believe. The following is a fine Nimzowitschian game, not least in the amazing versatility of the Black knights.
Black to play. This is from Wojtszek-Jobava, Wijk aan Zee 2014. This week’s puzzle is a fine finish from the ‘B’ group at Wijk aan Zee. The white position is a mess, but what is the key winning move for Black? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 28 January or via email to
Towards the end of last year, those two old warhorses Anatoly Karpov and Jan Timman added to their total of over 100 competitive games against each other by contesting a four-game match in Groningen, Holland. Both aged 62, the players displayed resilience and ingenuity which contribute to the annals of age-related achievements in serious international competitive
White to play. This position is a variation from Nepomniachtchi-Ivanchuk, Beijing 2013. White has a ferocious attack. How can he land the killer blow? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 21 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
Daniel Johnson, Dominic Lawson and Tim Congdon all had the potential to become chess masters. However, all three chose alternative routes, establishing their reputations in the fields of journalism, politics and economics. Daniel once held Kasparov to a draw in a simultaneous display and was instrumental in staging Nigel Short’s challenge to Kasparov in 1993. Dominic
White to play. This position is a variation from Congdon–‘Heinsius’, online game 2014. White has a ferocious attack and now needs to land the killer blow. How can he achieve this? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 14 January or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will
Viswanathan Anand, the 15th world champion, suffered a complete meltdown in his title defence against Magnus Carlsen towards the end of last year. Anand was an impressive match player, defending the title successfully against challenges from Kramnik, Topalov and Gelfand. He was also world champion for around six years. In his latter period as champion,
Black to play. This position is from Kramnik-Anand, Nice 2008. Both sides have dangerous-looking attacks. Can you spot Anand’s brilliant move which ensured his got in first? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 7 January or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first
This year’s London Classic tournament is still in progress and features Vladimir Kramnik, Viswanathan Anand, reigning British champion Gawain Jones, Nigel Short and Michael Adams. As a continuing tribute to classic positions, played in London events, I give this week a number of spectacular conclusions to games played in the capital. After many years of
