One of the eternal questions that practical players face is how to remember more than a couple of theoretical endings. Taking rook and pawn endings as an example, knowledge of the simplest positions such as Philidor’s defence in rook and pawn against rook…   Philidor’s position     1…Rb6 2.d6 Rb1 3.Ke6 Re1+   …or …

The book that got me into Alekhine – Bogolyubow was a book of the match by Yates and Winter that appeared in 1930. If truth be told, I have a few doubts about the scale of Yates’ contribution to the book. Winter wrote a short biography of Bogolyubow and also the theoretical review of the …

A few days ago, I went round to a neighbour to pick up a parcel that had been left there for me. I happened to mention that it was probably some chess books and was surprised when my neighbour said “Chess? Oh the father of a friend of mine was a good chess player. I …

Bogolyubow’s preparation for the World Championship match was to take part in the strong Carlsbad event of 1929 in which he came 8th with 11,5 / 21 (Nimzowitsch won with 15/21). He lost a superior ending (2R & 2Bs vs 2Rs & 2Ns) with Black in the last game against Becker in the 21st round …

The “Chess for Life” tour continued at the Casual Chess Café on 17th June. The Casual Chess Café meets in the lobby of the British Film Institute near Tottenham Court Road which is a truly lovely venue. Comfortable chairs, nice food and plenty of drinks from the bar!   After a little blitz to warm …