Magnus vs Sergei
The World Championship in New York begins this week. In the run-up, the defending champion, Magnus Carlsen of Norway, has…
no. 434
White to play. This is a position from Carlsen-Shirov, Biel 2011. Can you spot Carlsen’s crushing blow? Answers to me…
Missing person report
In Competition No. 2973 you were invited to give your thoughts, in verse or prose, on who the Person from…
The cheesecake of the apocalypse
Harry Morgan is a Jewish delicatessen and restaurant in the style of New York City on St John’s Wood High…
America’s retreat
Donald Trump predicted that his election would be ‘Brexit times ten’ — which, as far as the stockmarket reaction was…
High life
New York Americans have been to the polls. Everything is over but the shouting — by the loser, that is:…
Long life
At the beginning of November 1980, one week before Ronald Reagan won a landslide victory in the presidential election, Henry…
Long life
At the beginning of November 1980, one week before Ronald Reagan won a landslide victory in the presidential election, Henry…
Low life
I didn’t fancy the hotel breakfast, so I wandered into Arles old town looking for a café. The weather and…
Low life
I didn’t fancy the hotel breakfast, so I wandered into Arles old town looking for a café. The weather and…
Hygge
‘If there’s one thing I can’t stand,’ said my husband, ‘it’s scented candles.’ Now, we have never knowingly harboured a…
Real life
A wonderful email has arrived from Airbnb entitled ‘Discrimination and Belonging — What It Means For You’. Having tried to…
Football’s new Special One
Jurgen or José: compare and contrast (and please write on as many sides of the paper as possible). Is there…
Oh, the shame of not being Pointless
I give an after-dinner speech occasionally called ‘Media Training for Dummies’. That may sound condescending, but the dummy in question…
Oh, the shame of not being Pointless
I give an after-dinner speech occasionally called ‘Media Training for Dummies’. That may sound condescending, but the dummy in question…
Twelve to follow
When Theresa May came to power the Turf community was full of hope. Had she not been, if only briefly…
Twelve to follow
When Theresa May came to power the Turf community was full of hope. Had she not been, if only briefly…
Mob law
Frenzied outrage from Leavers and comical paeans of praise from Remainers greeted the High Court’s decision to instruct government that Parliament…
Diary
Seeing Trump win reminds me of a season of Dynasty in which my character, Alexis, ran for governor of Colorado…
Conditions for surrender
From ‘How to Shorten the War. I. Prisoners’, The Spectator, 11 November 1916: Unless we altogether mistake the mental character of…
Letters
A downbeat Brexiteer Sir: Alexander Chancellor (Long Life, 22 October) wondered why Brexiteers were not more upbeat about their victory.…
Portrait of the week
Home Theresa May, the Prime Minister, said she still expected to start talks on leaving the EU as planned by…
Visions of Bill
Last night I had a dream replete with wigs, robes and gavels. As I recall, it went something like this:…
