Media comments on chess

[Kevin Thurlow]

"Haha, yes, I had a quick look through the puzzle for unintended chess player names of two or three-letters."

I have constructed puzzles of that sort, then checked for unintended words. You soon learn to avoid the letter "U".

[Reg Clucas]

I happened to notice this chess-themed puzzle in The i newspaper a week or so ago.

Hi John,

The is also a 'Wes So.'

But he is not a World Champion (OK, neither was Staunton, officially).

[JustinHorton]

Paywalled, but this Times interview with Oxford philsophy professor (and gullible supporter of Sam Bankman-Fried) William McAskill* appears to take place during a game of chess, referenced twice in the opening paragraph.

[* thanks to Gerard below for the correction]

[Roger de Coverly]

Paywalled, but this Times interview with Oxford philsophy professor (and gullible supporter of Sam Bankman-Fried) Ewan McAskill appears to take place during a game of chess, referenced twice in the opening paragraph.

The game seems to have started 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bc5 4. d3 (or transposition). As appropriate for a philosopher, it's now possible to demonstrate that black is white by playing 4. .. Ng4 provoking the reply 5. d4 exd4 6. Na4 (or other Two Knights ideas)

[Gerard Killoran]

Paywalled, but this Times interview with Oxford philsophy professor (and gullible supporter of Sam Bankman-Fried) Ewan McAskill appears to take place during a game of chess, referenced twice in the opening paragraph.

The game seems to have started 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bc5 4. d3 (or transposition). As appropriate for a philosopher, it's now possible to demonstrate that black is white by playing 4. .. Ng4 provoking the reply 5. d4 exd4 6. Na4 (or other Two Knights ideas)

William MacAskill not Ewan.

[Roland Kensdale]

At around 29 mins into episode 3 (virtual assistants) of The Secret Genius of Modern Life, while discussing AI and briefly mentioning computer chess, Hannah Fry is seen playing a small plug-in chess computer. She says she is competitive and doesn't like losing. Couldn't see the position clearly but she seemed to be playing Ra1-a2 in a position with pawns on a4 and b3, for no good reason. Either she doesn't play or the position was just set up with little thought.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/ ... odern-life

[Ian Thompson]

Either she doesn't play or the position was just set up with little thought.

Or both. Look at these two screen shots:

First we have:

Pos 1.jpg (134.38 KiB) Viewed 1401 times

Black appears to have castled kingside with a queen.

followed by:

Pos 2.jpg (151.63 KiB) Viewed 1401 times

which looks like it's an earlier position from the game because the f1 bishop was on g2 in position 1 and can't have moved in position 2.

The black king and queen are on the wrong squares unless moved from their starting position to where they are now.

At least using a computer meant they couldn't get the board the wrong way round.

[Gerard Killoran]

To quote Ben Finegold,

"Still theory"

[Roland Kensdale]

Either she doesn't play or the position was just set up with little thought.

Or both. Look at these two screen shots:

First we have:

Pos 1.jpg

Black appears to have castled kingside with a queen.

followed by:

Pos 2.jpg

which looks like it's an earlier position from the game because the f1 bishop was on g2 in position 1 and can't have moved in position 2.

The black king and queen are on the wrong squares unless moved from their starting position to where they are now.

At least using a computer meant they couldn't get the board the wrong way round.

Very nice screen shots Ian. Possible the computer wasn't even switched on. I find they are much less trouble that way, too.

[Kevin Thurlow]

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/cricket ... e350618169

[Roger de Coverly]

from Kevin's link

Indian chess GM Narayanan forced to stand barefoot for metal detector check during match in Germany

UK arbiters also have a gadget that beeps in the presence of metal. Perhaps they haven't run into the problem of metallic carpets yet.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"Perhaps they haven't run into the problem of metallic carpets yet."

Good one!

Arbiters who are also scientists (like me) would test the scanner first. "Blank" readings are always a good idea.

Now I'm wondering if the metal denotes a nail holding the floor board down, or if it is part of a relay system for messages from outside...

[Kevin Thurlow]

More an advert, but even so...

https://www.spreadshirt.co.uk/shop/t-sh ... 5f1b922731

[Ian Thompson]

from Kevin's link

Indian chess GM Narayanan forced to stand barefoot for metal detector check during match in Germany

Even though it was only a shoe and a sock the FIDE rules (11.3.3) are clear that he should have been inspected in a private area.

[Kevin Thurlow]

... and he should not be forced to stand barefoot on a dirty carpet.