Author - The Journal
Eric Morrow

Yin and Yang

DIAG 1 Yin and Yang walked into an Irish pub. “What’d ya have, laddies?” asked the bartender. Neither said a word. The bartender, who had sailed the world in the Navy and had a girl in ...

A kind of symphony

Black to move and mate DIAG 1 The Grand Swiss tournament, held in September, was one of the most important events of the year. Three of the world’s youngest grandmasters showcased thei...

What’s mightier than the sword?

The International Chess Federation’s Grand Swiss tournament qualifies the top two finishers for two of the eight spots in the Candidates Tournament. Eight players then compete for the chance...

Giving is not always nice

Giving is not always selfless or proof of a good heart. In chess, it can be born of malice and evil intent. Such is the evil that lurked in Dutchman Jan Timman’s heart in 1979, when, in this...

The tortoise and hare

In 1915, Lord Dunsany published the little-known “The True History of the Tortoise and the Hare.” According to the tale, the origin of the famous race was a chess game in which the Hare lost...

Peace is not all bad

DIAG 1 The year is 1274 BC. The Egyptian Empire is at its peak and its Pharaoh is Ramesses II. Even so, the Hittite Empire from modern-day Turkey is Egypt’s rival in the Middle-East. ...

Tuck in your elbows

What is white’s best move? DIAG 1 Boxers hold their arms and hands close to their body so as to shield themselves from attack. Tucked-in elbows, for example, protect the ribs and vital ...

Trade wars

What is black’s best move?

Strategy and tactics

Black to move and win “Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory,” opined Sun Tzu in the Art of War. “Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” Please try to find ...

No one dies

What is white’s best move?

The color of tactics

What is white’s best move?

The key

What is white’s best move?