Irresistible force
Alexander Alekhine was one of the immortals of the chessboard — world champion from 1927, when in an epic war…
No. 394
White to play. This position is from Alekhine-Flohr, Bled 1931. White has a positional advantage but can you spot the…
Keres scene
This week I conclude my homage to the great Estonian grandmaster Paul Keres, who was born a century ago this…
No. 393
White to play. This is from Keres-Mardle, Hastings 1964. How did Keres ignite his attack? Answers to me at The…
Pauline conversion
Paul Keres, the Estonian grandmaster and many times world championship contender, was born a hundred years ago this month. His…
No. 392
White to play. This position is from Keres-Spassky, Gothenburg 1955. Can you spot White’s crushing blow? Answers to me at…
Paul stories
An excellent recent article by Dominic Lawson in Standpoint magazine reminded me of the greatness of Paul Keres. The Estonian…
No. 391
White to play. This is from Fischer-Benko, US Championship, New York 1963. The obvious 1 e5 is successfully parried by 1…
Winter’s tail
The London Classic, the end of the million-dollar Grand Tour, was something of a damp squib. A surfeit of draws…
Puzzle no. 390
Black to play. This is a variation from Carlsen-Grischuk, London Classic 2015. Carlsen won but this week’s puzzle shows how…
Banking on chess
As the new year begins, I pay a final tribute to the city financier Jim Slater, who did so much to…
Chess puzzle
Black to play. This position is from Wright-Keene, Slater Tournament, Southend 1968. Black’s next move destroyed the white kingside and…
London calling
By the time this article appears, the London Classic at Olympia and the newly created brainchild of the indefatigable Malcolm…
Chess Puzzle
White to play. This position is from Fernandez-Jackson, Aberystwyth 2014. White brilliantly exploited the draughty position of the black king…
London Classic
The annual London Classic, inspired and organised by the indefatigable Malcolm Pein, is now underway at London’s Olympia. The website…
Chess Puzzle
White to play. This position is from Edward Lasker-Thomas, London 1912. This is one of the most famous combinations ever…
Chess Maecenas
Last week saw the death of the city financier Jim Slater. He was famous in chess circles for joining Henry…
No. 389
Black to play. This position is from Basman-Keene, Slater Tournament, Southend 1968. How can Black quickly gain a decisive advantage?…
Grand Larsen-y
It is said that more books have been written about chess than about any other game, sport or pastime. I…
No. 388
Black to play. This is from Sursock–Larsen, Siegen 1970. How can Black win material? Answers to me at The Spectator…
Sporting chance
I was not quite sure whether to be annoyed or relieved about the recent High Court decision not to recognise…
No. 387
White to play. This position is a variation from A.Muzychuk-Dzagnidze, Monaco 2015. How can White finish off with a classic…
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…
