Author - The Journal

A theater of romance

White to move and win The chess board is a theater of romance and seduction. When a knight flashes both its right angles, linear-minded rooks are lured into a natural checkmating position. T...

DATE: May 5, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Overconfidence

The Battle of the Champions in 550 B.C. was fought between the Greek city-states Argos and Sparta. The two city-states agreed that only 300 warriors on each side would fight. It transpired i...

DATE: Apr 27, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Chinese proverbs

DIAG 1 The Women’s World Chess Championship match concluded mid-April. Reigning Champion Wenjun Ju faced fellow countrywoman Zhongyi Tan of China. Ju dominated the match and won before ...

DATE: Apr 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

New again

Five-thousand and four-hundred and ninety-eight years ago, just as the night’s sky lightened with the first tinge of navy before the morning, Pharaoh Thutmose III directed Egypt’s forces to ...

DATE: Apr 4, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Assassins lurk in the squares

DIAG 1 In the late 1880s and early 1890s, Queen Min of Korea pushed back against Japanese influence and made overtures to Russia. In 1895 in retaliation, Japanese assassins sneaked into...

DATE: Mar 31, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

The fat king

DIAG 1 King Henry VIII was not very fast. Neither was King George III, among others. Power perhaps is fattening or a heavy burden, or both. In chess, too, kings are slow. Even the lowl...

DATE: Mar 24, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

A Roman history lesson

White to mate in 3 DIAG 1 In the late third century B.C., Hannibal’s army crossed the Swiss Alps on elephants and was marching inexorably toward Rome. The Roman dictator and general Fab...

DATE: Feb 25, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Finding the right angle

What is white’s best move? DIAG 1 Freestyle chess is now popular because of the abundance of knowledge about the standard starting position. It randomizes the opening and sidesteps memo...

DATE: Feb 17, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Bridges

DIAG 1 Why did the Bridge visit the counselor? It needed arch support. In this week’s position, white wins by constructing a bridge that allows its pawn to cross the board to its promot...

DATE: Feb 10, 2025 | CATEGORY: Columnists

When the fat lady sings

DIAG 1 George Foreman has twice been the world's heavyweight boxing champion. In 1994 at 45 years of age, Foreman appeared to be losing the World Championship match to Michael Moorer. M...

DATE: Jan 27, 2025 | CATEGORY: