Life
Brief encounter
Books on the world championship matches used to appear regularly, with some having multiple written accounts. In recent years, though,…
no. 480
Black to play. This position is from Arda-Melia, Antalya 2017. How can Black win? Answers to me at The Spectator…
Northern frights
In Competition No. 3021 you were invited to compose terrifying lullabies. Lorca wondered why ‘Spain reserved the most potent songs…
2333: Unchangeable
One unclued light is a three-word phrase indicating the way in which each of the answers to clues in italics…
to 2330: IMAGE
The poem ‘The Red Wheelbarrow’ (originally ‘XXII’) by William Carlos Williams is considered perhaps the foremost example of IMAGISM. First…
The tyranny of the bedtime story
All surveys carried out by retail businesses with a view to generating press coverage should be treated with extreme caution,…
The battle for Britain
Got something to add? Join the discussion and comment below.
Dear Mary
Q. What is the etiquette of hospital visiting? A friend in his fifties is about to spend six weeks in…
Death hovers over the scrum
Rugby’s autumn internationals are almost upon us and dark thoughts hover over lovers of the sport. One day soon a…
The queen of hotels
Jean-Georges at the Connaught — formerly the Prince of Saxe-Coburg Hotel, but it was renamed during the first world war,…
The
Veronica, who looks at Twitter, told me of an exchange she thought would interest me, about the use of the.…
Bridge
Bridge is a partnership game — but haven’t you sometimes wished you could file for a quick divorce mid-rubber? The…
no. 479
Black to play. This is from Sanal-Arnaudov, Antalya 2017. How did Black finish off the horribly exposed white king? Answers…
Marriage guidance
In Competition No. 3020 you were invited to submit the formula for a successful marriage courtesy of a well-known husband…
2332: Glad all over
The unclued lights (one of two words and one hyphened) when preceded by a five–letter word are phrases listed in…
Dear Mary
Q. A newish friend who has very good manners lent me a DVD of his grandfather at the Olympics. I…
High life
I may have spoken too soon last week when I defended my old friend Harvey Weinstein. It now looks very…
The Battle for Britain
Got something to add? Join the discussion and comment below.
Low life
On Saturday night, I toddled up to the village hall for the fish-and-chip supper, quiz night and raffle — bring…
Einstein vs Weinstein
Before I forget, I was cheered by the letter from Keith Aitken in last week’s issue noting another sense for…
Father William
The American grandmaster William Lombardy died last week (4 December 1937–13 October 2017). He was an amazing talent in his…
to 2329: PLACES TO EAT
The paired unclued lights are food items which include a place-name. BATH and BUNS do double duty, BUNS is the plural…
A Dutch treat from Bordeaux
In 1995, a young Dutchman completed an MBA. Banking beckoned. An internship was arranged. But Alexander van Beek thought that…
Sadly, true grit can’t be taught
I am currently wrestling with a dilemma. I have agreed to contribute to a panel discussion on character education at…
Perception vs objective reality
I hate to tell you this, but every time you watch television you are being duped. In fact there are…
