Author - The Journal

Those who bait

The alligator turtle lures unsuspecting fish into its jaws with its tongue, which looks like a tasty worm. As the fish goes for the bait, the turtle’s jaws snap shut and it’s the worm that g...

DATE: Jan 19, 2026 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Something wicked

DIAG 1 In Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth,” Lady Macbeth drugs the king’s guards, allowing General Macbeth to murder King Duncan easily. Similarly, in this week’s position White removes Bla...

DATE: Jan 12, 2026 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

The wizard

This December, Magnus Carlsen won both the World Chess Championship in Rapid and Blitz time controls. Rapid is a game played in 15 minutes with a 10‑second increment; Blitz, a game played in...

DATE: Jan 2, 2026 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Take it

When you come to a fork in the road, take it “When you come to a fork in the road, take it,” Yogi Berra quipped. With this hint in mind, please try to find White’s winning move in this week’...

DATE: Dec 18, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Tiny moves: White to move and win

“Tiny Tim, you mischievous devil,” snarled Scrooge. “Now, now,” chided the Ghost of Christmas Future from behind Scrooge’s chair. Playing black, Scrooge thought the game was won with his qu...

DATE: Dec 15, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Sniff for the unexpected

Young Rudolf the reindeer surprised Santa with his red nose. Santa first thought Rudolf had a bad cold, but then saw his nose emitted a light so bright. The rest went down in history. Like ...

DATE: Dec 8, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Aesop’s chess fable

Black to move and win a pawn

DATE: Dec 1, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

The cup is half-full

White to move and win DIAG 1 The World Cup in India this November is one of the most important chess tournaments of the year. That’s because the top three finishers qualify for three of...

DATE: Nov 17, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Pseudo pins

DIAG 1 Lions use teamwork to hunt bigger prey like water buffalo and giraffes. In chess, black’s bishop and knight use teamwork to take down bigger prey – namely, white’s queen. White’s...

DATE: Nov 10, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

One sacrifice too many

The chess community was recently shocked by the sudden death of 29-year-old Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky. As one of the world’s most popular and well-liked players, he was omnipresent on th...

DATE: Nov 3, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Knight of the vampire

DIAG 1 As agreed, Count Dracula pulled up a chair and sat across from Van Helsing at the marble table. The wooden chess set that rested between them was a gift from Russia’s Ivan the Te...

DATE: Oct 27, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

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 ...

DATE: Oct 10, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner