Bridge
The Hubert Phillips Bowl is one of my favourite tournaments of the year: a friendly, knockout event with a rather…
Life on the edge
The grandmaster Nigel Davies has just written a new book on the Pirc Defence, a variation in which Black sacrifices…
No. 411
Black to play. This is from Cherin-Pedini, Italy 2016. Black has just sacrificed some material as he could foresee a…
The law is an ass
In Competition No. 2950 you were invited to propose a new and ludicrous piece of legislation along with a justification…
2263: Hurry
Each of twelve clues contains a misprinted letter in the definition part. Corrections of misprints spell a four-word phrase forming…
To 2260: B & B
BUTTONS AND BOWS (1A) is a song in the film THE PALEFACE (10), sung by BOB HOPE (27). Other unclued lights…
Call yourself a friend?
Only four out of ten pals turned up for my stag do, not including the ‘best friend’ who organised it
A monkey-brained case for Donald Trump
I’m not sure about my prefrontal cortex, but if I were American, my amygdala would vote for Donald
Your problems solved
Other problems solved by Dear Mary: is it ‘cultural appropriation’ to wear a sari to a Sikh wedding?; farmers’ fancy dress
A hell-cat in heaven
Some girls thought the late Albert deserved a libation, but even a grand pussy cat does not deserve grand cru champagne
Barry Humphries
A failed political experiment that began nearly 100 years ago, the Weimar Republic (1918-1933), still holds considerable fascination for many…
Simon Collins
Whether or not Australians get to vote on the subject of gay marriage later this year, nobody would dispute the…
Australian notes
I love Malcolm, but where is he when you need him? ‘This isn’t the Malcolm Turnbull Australians thought they…
Aux bien pensants
This election should be about more than which of two spendthrift assassins is likely to waste less money − yours−…
Four down, four to go
‘Before I was part of Team Turnbull…’ said Tony Abbott, letting the moment hang in the air with a mischievous…
The failure of reform advocacy in Australia
By placing so much faith in benign government, we are deceiving ourselves
Campaign notes
It’s rather nice when people queue up to give me money. Of course, the money isn’t for me – it’s…
