(Newcastle Chronicle, 29 November 2024)

In seconds, it will all be over. The outcome depends on who makes their move before the time runs out. North East fans watching the World Championship this week between Ding Liren and Dommaraju Gukesh in Singapore were thrilled to see the players scrambling as the seconds ticked down to zero.

In Game 1, Gukesh escaped losing on time by just one second, but in Game 3 Ding lost on time, pieces flying across the board as his clock reached zero. So why are the players struggling with the clock?

It’s the time controls. Most matches now use increments (time added on for each player after they make a move). But in this match, there is no increment added until after Black’s 40th move.

In the last 20 years, matches have increasingly used digital clocks, rather than analogue clocks with a flag that fell once a player’s time ran out. Increments of up to 30 seconds are easily set on digital clocks. They make event management simpler, as a chess referee doesn’t have to be on hand to sort out time scrambles. The chess world got used to increments, and players always knew they would have a little extra time for each move.

Taking away those extra precious seconds has left Ding and Gukesh wrong-footed. Time management skills learned in the 20th century need to be relearned – and it is creating some chaotic finishes.

No one in the Northumbria League really wants matches to go back to no increments. Disputes with no arbiters present, just well-meaning but highly partisan team captains often led to huge arguments, Mexican standoffs and even years-long grudges between clubs.

But in a World Championship match, you can play with no increments – as there are highly-qualified arbiters on hand to correct any infringement on the single game in progress.

The increments have been dropped after World Championship matches were producing too many draws. Players would memorise opening theory for 15-20 moves, then know they could fall back on the 30 seconds extra per move. Having no increments means that the Ding-Gukesh match may well come down to who handles the clock better.

In the Northumbria League, unless we want to see pieces (and possibly blood) spilled on the board in frantic time scrambles, it seems increments are here to stay.

The World Championship match runs until December 11. Games start at 9am UK time. For live commentary, go to chess.com.

PUZZLES

This week’s puzzles are from the Northumberland Championships.

Puzzle A: Puzzle A: Brookes-Russell. White to play & win.

Puzzle B: Peardon-Sathishkumar. White to play & win.

Puzzle C: Cheung-Stipanovic. Black to play & win.

Puzzle D: Wright-Green. White to play & win.

ANSWERS:

A: 1 Nb3! Qb5 2 a4 wins the knight on e5.
B: 1 e4! traps the bishop on d5.
C: 1…Bd5! forks queen and knight.
D: 1 Qh1+! Kg6 (if 1…Qh5 2 Rh7+! Kxh7 3 Qxh5+) 2 Qh7 checkmate.

(Newcastle Chronicle, 15 November 2024)

All the tell-tale signs of the Christmas season are already upon us. The parties are beginning, Slade’s on the jukebox and Fenwick’s ‘12 Days of Christmas’ window display is in full swing.

Your thoughts may turn to what presents to get for family and friends. If you’re passing on the idea of a festive reindeer jumper, why not consider something different – a chess set, instructional book or online membership?

Chess sets come in all shapes and sizes. For the serious player and connoisseur, classic Staunton pattern wooden sets make an excellent gift, while fancy themed sets range from Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings to Napoleonic armies, Batman and Star Wars are perfect for gaming enthusiasts.

The best value set for children and newcomers is actually just a standard plastic set and rollup board. These can be purchased for as little as £15-20 online or from retailer Chess & Bridge (www.chess.co.uk). Digital chess clocks are a must-have for budding champions, and these can be found online from £20-£30 upwards.

There are plenty of good chess books to choose from to fill Christmas stockings.

Handy primers include ‘How to Beat Your Dad at Chess’ by Murray Chandler, ‘Beginner Chess Puzzles’ and ‘Intermediate Chess Puzzles’ by Martin Bennedik, and ‘Learn Chess Tactics’ by John Nunn.

‘The Chess Revolution’ by Peter Doggers brings the history of the game bang up to date, including the impact of the ‘Queen’s Gambit’ Netflix series and online chess, while the original novel, ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ by Walter Tevis, is an inspirational read.

Some out-of-print classics are well worth a read if you can find them online or from second-hand booksellers: ‘Chess for Tigers’ by Simon Webb is full of practical tips for outwitting your opponents, and the timely ‘How to Cheat at Chess’ by William Hartston is a hilarious romp through all kinds of over-the-board skulduggery (it may surprise you to know that cheating scandals didn’t start with Hans Niemann and Vladimir Kramnik).

Many young players are learning as much via online videos and chess websites as from conventional chess books. A chess.com membership will set you back about £30 a year, but comes with masses of instructional videos, puzzles and lessons. There is also plenty of great free stuff out there: check out lichess.org and the ‘Power Play Chess’ channel on YouTube.

There’s a whole chess world out there, so feel free to jump in.

PUZZLES

Puzzle A: Paul Dargan (White) to play. Mate in 2.

Puzzle B: James Ross (White) to play and win.

Puzzle C: Mick Riding (White) to play and win.

Puzzle D: John Boyd (Black) to play and win.

ANSWERS:

A: 1 Qc6+ Rc7 2 Qa8 checkmate; or 1…Kb8 2 Rd8 checkmate.
B: 1 Qh6! wins a piece, as if 1…Bf6 2 Qh7 checkmate.
C: 1 Rxd5! Qxd5 2 Bc4! wins. If 2…Bd4+ 3 Ne3 Bxe3+ 4 Qxe3 Qc6 5 d7+ Ka8 6 Nc7+ Ka7 7 Bb5! wins Black’s queen.
D: 1…Bxb3! 2 Rxd7 (if 2 cxb3 Rxb3+ 3 Kc2 Qxa4 wins) Bxc2+! 3 Kxc2 Qxa4+! 4 Ke4 f5+ 5 Kxe5 Re8+ 6 Re7 Bg7+ 7 Ke6 Nf4 checkmate.