White to play. This position is from King-Howell, Staunton Memorial, London 2003. Can you spot White’s fine finish to the attack? Because of the Christmas printing schedule, we regret that this is not a prize puzzle. Last week’s solution 1 … Qh1+
This year’s London Classic tournament, organised by the indefatigable Malcolm Pein, who also heads up the charity Chess in Schools and Communities, is composed of several sections. The main group is graced by the presence of numerous elite international and British grandmasters, notably Viswanathan Anand, fresh from his title defence against Magnus Carlsen. All the
Black to play. This position is a variation from Evans-Staunton, London 1845. Can you spot Black’s fine finish to the attack? Because of the Christmas printing schedule, we regret that this is not a prize puzzle. Last week’s solution 1 Qh6 (1 … c1Q+ 2 Bf1 d4+ 3 Kg1 Qe3+ 4 Rf2 and
Magnus Carlsen has become the 16th world chess champion, taking the title with three wins, seven draws and no losses, the most convincing win in a title match since Capablanca defeated Lasker in 1921. Norway’s Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, congratulated the new champion on live TV, Scandinavian Airlines decorated a plane in chessboard livery in
White to play. This position is a variation from Anand-Carlsen, Chennai (Game 9). White is on the verge of delivering checkmate but the Black b-pawn is about to promote. White needs an accurate move here. What is it? Answers to me at The Spectator by Monday 2 December or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by
As predicted last week, the samurai standoff between Anand and Carlsen was swiftly shattered. After quiet draws in games one and two, Anand missed a golden opportunity in game three, while Carlsen returned the compliment in game four. Then Carlsen struck, cutting Anand down in two consecutive endgames which the young Norwegian handled with awesome
Black to play. This is a variation from Anand-Carlsen; World Championship (Game 4), Chennai 2013. Anand avoided this position, although he is material ahead. What had he foreseen? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 26 November or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first
In Kurosawa’s samurai warrior classic Sanjuro, the hero, a wandering Ronin played by Toshiro Mifune, ends the film in a face-off with his mortal enemy Hanbei Muroto. For a long moment the two martial swordsmen face each other in total immobility. Then, in a flash, a movement known by Samurai as Debana-Waza, Mifune slices his
White to play. This position is from Anand-Ding Liren, Alekhine Memorial, Paris 2013. White’s next destroyed the already compromised black position. What did he play? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 19 November or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer
Magnus Carlsen’s world title challenge to Vishy Anand commences on Saturday 9 November and continues to the end of this month. The age gap between the young challenger and the veteran champion is 21 years; such an age disparity has not been seen since the 1981 clash between Karpov and Korchnoi (a 20-year age gap) and
White to play. This position is from Karpov v. Korchnoi, Merano 1981. White’s next destroyed the black position. What did he play? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 12 November 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
Magnus Carlsen has risen to achieve the highest ever chess rating. He ascended to 2872 on the rankings, which compares with 2851 for Kasparov, 2785 for Bobby Fischer and 2817 for Viswanathan Anand, the reigning champion. Carlsen commences his multi-million-dollar challenge for the world chess title against Anand in Chennai on 9 November. Carlsen is
White to play. This position is a variation from Carlsen-Anand, Monaco 2011. White is a piece down here but has a powerful move which destroys the black position. Can you see it? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 5 November or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The
Magnus Carlsen is seeking to become the 16th world chess champion in a line that includes such giants as Bobby Fischer, Boris Spassky and Garry Kasparov. The $5 million World Chess Championship will be a clash between the reigning Indian world champion Viswanathan Anand (defending champion from the World Chess Championship 2012 and twice winner
Black to play. This is a variation from Svidler-Nepomniatchi, Novgorod 2013. Svidler avoided this position, despite the fact that White appears to be a piece up for very little. What possible danger had he foreseen? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 29 October or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020
Andrew Paulson, an American who lives in London, has been responsible for a remarkable chess revolution over the past year. He commissioned a YouGov study which showed that more than 600 million people worldwide regularly play chess. Paulson proceeded to raise sponsorship funds to stage two of the best chess tournaments ever held in London
White to play. This position is from Goganov-Motylev, Russian Championship, Novgorod 2013. Black has just captured on d5 with his bishop, after which White has a killer blow. Can you see it? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 22 October or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk. The winner will be the first correct answer
Former world champion Garry Kasparov has announced that he will stand for president of Fidé, the World Chess Federation, next year. He is challenging the incumbent, the colourful Kirsan Ilumzinov, former president of Kalmykia. The adjective ‘colourful’ is very much an understatement. An openly declared friend of Saddam Hussein and Colonel Gaddafi, it looked like
White to play. This is from Euwe-Alekhine, Zurich 1934. It looks as if Alekhine may have won Euwe’s knight due to the e-file pin. How did Euwe respond in such a way as to avoid material loss and gain a clear advantage? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 15 October or via email
Grandmasters Pal Benko and Viktor Korchnoi have worn dark glasses to counter perceived hypnotic influence during games. In the recent Sinquefield tournament in St Louis, Hikaru Nakamura resorted to the same measure against Magnus Carlsen. In the past Naka has fared badly against Carlsen, but this time he held the draw. Maybe there is something in
