The year is drawing to a close and this is my last column before Christmas. May I wish you all a very merry one? TGR’s autumn Superleague finished last week and was won by my friend Jonathan Harris and his merry men. For once that evil old mantra ‘When a friend succeeds a part
The English Chess Federation has awarded its Book of the Year prize to Timman’s Titans: My World Chess Champions by Jan Timman (New in Chess). This is a good choice for a present: Timman’s book is aimed at both the expert and the general chess enthusiast, and describes his interactions with many world champions.
In Competition No. 3027 you were invited to submit a poem inspired by the Shipping Forecast. Life-saver, lullaby, poetic reminder of our maritime heritage, the Shipping Forecast celebrated its 150th anniversary this year. Charlotte Green has described it as the nearest she ever came to reading poetry on air; Carol Ann Duffy ended her
Cryptic indications in four clues are incomplete; in each case, the part not indicated is supplied by a 1D (two words). Two unclued lights and the 35 are synonyms of the first word of 1D; each of three unclued lights is defined by the second word of 1D, which is also the surname of a
The action that results in 6, 10, 29D and 30 is HAIR-RAISING (7, defined by 5). RAISING A HARE (39) results in 13. First prize Norma Jacobs, Linton, Wetherby, W. Yorks Runners-up Mrs E. Knights, Wisbech, Cambs; Trevor Evans, Drulingen, France
White to play. This position is from Timman-Short, Tilburg 1990. Can you spot Timman’s classic finish? We regret that this is not a prize puzzle owing to Christmas deadlines. Last week’s solution 1 Nxd6 Last week’s winner Ray Fisher, Buxton, Derbyshire
