English Chess Forum

Anyone watched this (BBC1 on Wednesday evening)?

There was a very brief shot of a newspaper chess puzzle page at 2:34 iPlayer but I assume there may be some more in future episodes as there was a chess set at the end of the episode

I'm watching it, very good if you like David Mitchell. There is one amusing reference in episode 2 where a motivational speaker is insisting that only teams win championships and the Mitchell character retorts with "What about Garry Kasparov?" I suspect there will be more chess references to come.

Yes it is good. I binge watch to episode 4, catch the rest later.

This position very briefly appears in a puzzle book in one of the episodes.

2r4r/p1Rn2pp/bp1kp3/5pB1/3Pp1P1/4P3/P2N1P1P/2R3K1 w - - 0 1

It says White Mates. What were the last six moves (sic)

White mates in three not a position or anything close to it I could find.

Ludwig (David Mitchell) says it is called Reverse Chess a variant he invented.

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 27, 2024 5:02 pm

Anyone watched this (BBC1 on Wednesday evening)?

There was a very brief shot of a newspaper chess puzzle page at 2:34 iPlayer but I assume there may be some more in future episodes as there was a chess set at the end of the episode

Found the first few minutes a bit off-putting. Our hero solves crosswords by first solving every across clue, then every down. He solves a chess puzzle by drawing the first move with an arrow on the diagram.

It does grow on you. Light hearted, undemanding entertainment with a nice cast.

1 R1c6+ Kd5 2 Be7! one presumes?

Hi Matt,

Yes that is it. No spoiler alert needed as the position plays no part in the story, though chess does.
The position does have a game like appearance. I did a quick run through my D.B's with just the bones of the position. Nothing leapt out.
'Reverse Chess.' Not attempted it in earnest the last 6 moves puzzle. It is very possibly a random position but the task could be (if there is one) set up a position where that position in the diagram is forced after 6 moves. Mitchell does say he invented this form of puzzle but everyone found them too difficult.

Edinburgh Chess Club Open Day (Today and Tomorrow 10am - 4pm) - a few of us knew nothing about this till the advert appeared in Edinburgh Evening News on Tuesday! We have amassed enough volunteers to handle the crowds which thanks to 'Queen Gambit' were quite large last time. Maybe this series will attract more. (gosh look at time - see you later)

Edit: This post is time stamped as 9:08. It is actually 10:08 I guess it will sort itself in October - 'Spring Forward - Fall Back.'

Geoff Chandler wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 27, 2024 11:54 pm

Yes it is good. I binge watch to episode 4, catch the rest later.

This position very briefly appears in a puzzle book in one of the episodes.

2r4r/p1Rn2pp/bp1kp3/5pB1/3Pp1P1/4P3/P2N1P1P/2R3K1 w - - 0 1

It says White Mates. What were the last six moves (sic)

White mates in three not a position or anything close to it I could find.

Ludwig (David Mitchell) says it is called Reverse Chess a variant he invented.

I watched episode 4 last night; I thought he said the last move was Nd8 rather than Nd7 so got a bit distracted by that

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 03, 2024 9:30 am

Geoff Chandler wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 27, 2024 11:54 pm

Yes it is good. I binge watch to episode 4, catch the rest later.

This position very briefly appears in a puzzle book in one of the episodes.

2r4r/p1Rn2pp/bp1kp3/5pB1/3Pp1P1/4P3/P2N1P1P/2R3K1 w - - 0 1

It says White Mates. What were the last six moves (sic)

White mates in three not a position or anything close to it I could find.

Ludwig (David Mitchell) says it is called Reverse Chess a variant he invented.

I watched episode 4 last night; I thought he said the last move was Nd8 rather than Nd7 so got a bit distracted by that

I think David Mitchell forgot his lines when he said 'N-Q1', though I think there wasn't much interest in the Chess by the makers, I think they just threw a mention in with other puzzles. There were quite a few mentions. I even wondered whether Ludwig was testing whether Freddy knew what his last move in the game was, but that wasn't the case.

I wondered whether they were referring to retrograde analysis when talking of the variant Ludwig is said to have devised.

Pausing the programme at the puzzle Geoff quoted, the opposite page of the book had a page headed Chess with some moves but no pieces identified. G8-e7, but the Knight was on d7, another to g5 where the White Bishop is. Maybe coincidence and nothing to do with the puzzle opposite. I suspect there wasn't an interest in the details.

Enjoyable series, last episode set up for a new series.

I've heard this is good, though David Mitchell gets on my nerves a bit these days, I did used to love Peep Show when I was in my 20's. I'll probably give it a go.

I'm a bit fan of his wife Vicky Coren, I would highly recommend her autobiography if you are interested in poker, it has some great anecdotes about the British scene in the 90s and early 2000's

I did wonder if she also played chess given the quite wide crossover between the two games, but apparently not.