This autumn has been the busiest (bridge-wise) I can remember. It started with the Crockfords final at the beginning of September (we came second), then there was the World Championships in Orlando (we came nowhere) and the Pairs and Teams Grand Prix of Poland in Vilnius (we came second in both). We have just played
Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, those two gladiators of the mind, will duel in London during the remainder of this month for the title of world chess champion. Twelve games will be played, and if no clear victor emerges there will be a rapidplay tie break on November 28. It is my prediction that
In Competition No. 3073 you were invited to submit a short story in the Gothic style with a topical twist. The seed of this challenge was the recent reopening of Strawberry Hill House and Garden, the neo-Gothic creation of Horace Walpole, whose 1764 chiller The Castle of Otranto is regarded as the first Gothic
Unclued lights, singly or correctly paired, are of a kind, as given in Chambers. Ignore one apostrophe. Across 5 Maiden admitting born overseas originally, not in Danish city (6) 11 Author’s note on leader of band (6) 13 Sort of thinking muscle real troublesome (7) 15 Old royal servant, one that looks to captivate
The word ladder connecting UNITED and STATES goes: UNITES (1D), URITES (18), WRITES (7D), WHITES (34), WHILES (30A), WHALES (7A), SHALES (10), STALES (31). First prize Belinda Bridgen, London NW8 Runners-up Tom Eadon, Melton Mowbray; Tom Richards, Wolfscastle, Pembrokeshire
White to play. This is from Carlsen-Caruana, Bilbao 2012. Black has blundered right out of the opening. How did Carlsen gain a decisive advantage? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 13 November or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please
