White to play. This position is from Kramnik-Kasparov, World Championship, London (Game 2) 2000. Kasparov has been struggling to hold a difficult endgame, a pawn down and has now just blundered. How did Kramnik finish off? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 8 January or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on
In my series of homages to great masters in London, this week an outstanding win by Anatoly Karpov, who took first prize in the major international tournaments in London 1982 and London 1984. The position is by Alexander Alekhine who came second to Capablanca in London 1922, won in London 1932 and would have defended
White to play. This position is from Alekhine-Yates, London 1922. White has conducted a brilliant strategic game, exposing Black on the dark squares. How does he now continue this theme for a fine tactical finish? Owing to early printing deadlines, we regret that this week’s is not a prize puzzle. Last week’s solution 1 …
This Christmas and New Year I am publishing a series of tributes to players in great London games. This week, examples of play by Capablanca, who won the great tournament at London in 1922, and Lasker, who stormed to victory in London 1899. The Capablanca game in particular is a mighty struggle which still causes
Black to play. This position is a variation from Lee-Lasker, London 1899. The white king has been driven into a dangerous situation in the centre of the board. How can Black conclude? Owing to early printing deadlines, we regret that this week’s is not a prize puzzle. Last week’s solution 1 f7+
This week I continue my homage, during the London Classic which finishes this coming week, to great players who have achieved outstanding things in London. In 1866 Wilhelm Steinitz defeated Adolf Anderssen in what was, to all intents and purposes, a World Championship clash. Steinitz marked it as the beginning of his World Championship tenure,
White to play. This position is from La Bourdonnais-McDonnell, London 1834. White has various ways to finish off, but what is the cleanest kill? Owing to early printing deadlines, we regret that this week’s is not a prize puzzle. Last week’s solution 1 Qf6+ Last week’s winner Philip White, Wirral, Merseyside
White to play. This position is from Anderssen-Kieseritzky, Simpson’s in the Strand, London 1851. It is known in chess literature as ‘The Immortal Game’. Can you spot White’s immortal finish? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 4 December or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will
To celebrate the London Classic, which starts at Olympia this Saturday, I shall be paying a series of homages to illuminati of the game who have achieved great things in London. I kick off with Howard Staunton, who won the equivalent of World Championship matches against the German masters Harrwitz and Horwitz in London and
Armenia won the gold medals in the Istanbul Chess Olympiad for the third time in four years — an astonishing feat for a small nation. Part of the secret of their success is the fact that chess is now taught as a curriculum subject in Armenian schools; the Armenian hero Tigran Petrosian created a chess
Black to play. This is from Kalantar-Petrosian, Erevan 1946. Black has various powerful moves in this position but one is completely terminal. Can you see it? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 27 November or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct
Last week, in the context of the discovery of the chessboard of Sir John Tenniel, the Times related a famous, possibly apocryphal story in which Aron Nimzowitsch mounted a table after yielding to a lesser player, shouting ‘why must I lose to this idiot?’ Nimzo is also in the news after the recent publication of
Black to play. This position is from Jacobsen-Nimzowitsch, Copenhagen 1922. How did Nimzo terminate the game? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 20 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 hat, and each week I shall
Entries are now being invited to what I believe to be the world’s finest open tournament held at the Caleta Hotel in Gibraltar over January and February next year. I attend as often as I can and the atmosphere and general camaraderie exceed anything I have experienced elsewhere. Brian Callaghan, the spiritus rector of the
White to play. This position is a variation from David Xu–Michael Basman, Simultaneous 2012. White has a quite remarkable winning move here. Can you see it? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 13 November or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct
Michael Basman is in many ways the most important person in British chess. As a player, he is an International Master, who tied for the British Championship in 1973, losing out in the tie-break. Since then he has turned his hand to organising a mass annual schools championship, attended by 70,000 entrants every year. Sponsored
Black to play. This is from Velimirovic-Basman, Student Olympiad 1967. Black has just given up a piece. The justification for this sacrifice is revealed with his next move, which leads to a large advantage. What is it? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 6 November or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax
In contemporary high-class tournament play both adjournments and early draws have been banned. This is partly due to the accessibility of computer analysis and partly to the realisation that well-remunerated grandmasters have an obligation to entertain. As a result, more and more games are being decided in seemingly level endgames which in former times might
Black to play. This position is from Belstizman-Rubinstein, Warsaw 1926. Although a great endgame master, Rubinstein could turn his hand to tactical play when the occasion required. How did he finish off here? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 30 October or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773.
Magnus Carlsen has won the elite tournament split between Sao Paulo, Brazil and Bilbao, Spain ahead of a squad of top grandmasters, including the world champion Viswanathan Anand. Using the 3 for a win, 1 for a draw and nothing for a loss system, the final scores were as follows: Carlsen and Caruana 17, Aronian
