The story goes that a low-rated player once bravely asked Viktor Korchnoi his advice about what opening to play against a stronger opponent. "Play Grünfeld" was the grumpy reply. "Play Grünfeld against everything apart from 1 e4." I have...

One night, in a private boarding house in Scarborough, a railwayman vanishes, leaving his belongings behind... It is the eve of the Great War, and Jim Stringer, railway detective, is uneasy about his next assignment. And when Jim...

Why is the Victoria Line so hot? What is an Electrical Multiple Unit? Is it really possible to ride from King's Cross to King's Cross on the Circle line?The London Underground is the oldest, most sprawling and illogical metropolitan...

Not quite a London System and not quite a Veresov. The unusually named 'Barry Attack' lies somewhere between the two. Yet another challenging queen pawn system that Black has to prepare for. In fact, the 'Barry Attack' had roots as early...

What is the Hippopotamus system of defence? The idea is that, at the beginning of the game, Black develops within his own first three ranks. He constructs a solid, flexible and hopefully stable position, awaiting events. At the right...

Do you have a fantastic memory and a liking for sharp positions, the evaluations of which can change with a few taps of a computer button? If so, then the main lines of the Open Sicilian are for you. But if you are one of the 99% of...