Twenty-five years ago, Zia Mahmood offered a £1 million bet that no team of his choosing could ever be beaten by computers. A mere four years later, he withdrew the bet: robots were already exceeding expectations, and who knew how rapidly things would progress? In fact, computer bridge still hasn’t reached world-class levels (unlike computer
Congratulations to the organisational team of the Isle of Man Masters, which concluded last weekend. They assembled what must have been the strongest ever field for an open tournament in the history of international chess. Magnus Carlsen showed the kind of dominance he can achieve when he moves into overdrive. Leading results were: Carlsen 7½/9,
In Competition No. 3018 you were invited to take your lead from Meik Wiking — CEO at the Happiness Research Institute and author of The Little Book of Hygge and The Little Book of Lykke — and provide an extract from your own Little Book of…. When I set this challenge, I had in mind
10 5/9/34/30D/7/35/4/1D is a poem quoted in full in ODQ. The author’s surname (and indeed first name) appears at 26. Across 1 Portable furniture affected county (8, hyphened) 8 It’s only fair (4) 12 Get ready to improve shepherd’s delight left in champagne? (10) 13 Some twin sisters are demanding (6) 14 Book wrapping
Five unclued lights (1D, 14, 21, 24 and 41) are titles of paintings by EDWARD HOPPER (5 39). First prize J.P. Carrington, Denchworth, Oxfordshire Runners-up Jenny Mitchell, Croscombe, Somerset; F.A. Scott, Enfield, Middlesex
White to play. This is from Anand-Esserman, Isle of Man 2017. White now killed off the exposed black king. What was the key move? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 10 October or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please
