Winter of discontent
The two great Soviet world champion Russians, Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov, have almost always taken divergent paths. Karpov was…
No. 386
White to play. This is from Kasparov-Karpov, London/Leningrad (Game 16). Kasparov saw this conclusion many moves in advance. White would…
Doctor Hou
Hou Yifan has won what must be considered one of the strongest, if not the strongest, all-women chess tournaments ever…
No. 385
White to play. This position is from Koneru-Zhukova, Monaco 2015. How did White quickly exploit the constricted position of the…
Ex libris
When I first studied chess I thought it was a golden age for chess literature. There were the classics such…
No. 384
Black to play. This position is from Inarkiev-Salem, World Blitz, Berlin 2015. How did Black conclude the attack? Answers to…
Thud and blunder
The Fidé World Cup, which finished last week in Baku, boasted over $1 million in overall prize money, with $100,000…
Puzzle no. 383
Black to play. This is from Karjakin-Svidler, Fidé World Cup, Baku 2015. The position occurred earlier in the third game…
Black death
Joseph Henry Blackburne was the leading British tournament player towards the end of the 19th century. It could be said…
Puzzle no. 382
White to play. This is from Blackburne-Schwarz, Berlin 1881. What is the best way to deal with the knight check?…
Homer nods
Paul Morphy, in a strange prefiguration of the later career of Bobby Fischer, was often described as ‘the pride and…
No. 381
Black to play. This is from Botterill-Basman, Eastbourne 1973. What is Black’s best move? Answers to me at The Spectator…
Coincidence
My grandmaster colleague James Plaskett has two passions, the pursuit of the mythical giant octopus (ongoing) and a fascination with…
No. 380
Black to play. This position is from Abramciuc–Nevednichy, Chisinau 2014. How can Black simplify down to a winning endgame? Answers…
Grand Tour
This week I conclude my coverage of the St Louis leg of the million dollar Grand Tour. Carlsen-So: Sinquefield…
Puzzle no. 379
Black to play. This position is a variation from So-Nakamura, St Louis 2015. How can Black conclude the attack with…
Checkmate me in St Louis
The Sinquefield Cup in St Louis, one of the strongest tournaments of all time, has been convincingly won by the…
Puzzle no. 378
Black to play. This position is a variation from So-Aronian, St Louis 2015. How can Black conclude the attack? Answers…
Bête noire
England’s top grandmaster, Michael Adams, exerts a powerful influence over the elite player David Navara. In rating terms Navara and…
No. 377
Black to play. This position is a variation from Maslak-Smerdon, Pardubice 2007. Black has powered through on the kingside. How…
Piratical
I have never met David Smerdon, the Australian grandmaster and author of Smerdon’s Scandinavian (Everyman Chess). Last week I gave…
No. 376
Black to play. This position is a variation from variation from Maslak-Smerdon, Pardubice 2007. Black has powered through on the…
Viking trail
The Australian grandmaster David Smerdon has written a truly exciting book about some of the byways in the Centre Counter…
No. 375
Black to play. This position is from Kosmo-Smerdon, Goa 2002. Can you spot Black’s beautiful winning move? Answers to me…
Buried treasure
Jonathan Hawkins has emerged as the winner of this year’s British Championship, which finished last week at the University of…
