Author - The Journal

The devil and pawn

The renowned French opera composer François-André Danican Philidor produced over 20 operas in the mid to late 18th century. He was also the world’s best chess player during this period. A ch...

DATE: Jun 2, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Look this way

In the Battle of Cannae (216 B.C.), the Carthaginian General Hannibal deflected the Romans toward the center and then flanked the Romans from behind, encircling the Romans with a devastating...

DATE: May 22, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Cut a rug

DIAG 1 On the chess board, the bishop pair is like the legendary dancing pair Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers. Together, the bishops can dance across the floor and deliver checkmate with ...

DATE: May 18, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

The best medicine

DIAG 1 Penicillin was discovered because a petri dish was unchecked over the summer of 1928. With this hint in mind please try to find white’s best move. In this week’s position, white ...

DATE: May 13, 2025 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

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