Malcolm Pein on…The FTX Crypto Cup
Malcolm Pein turns his attention to the FTX Crypto Cup in today’s Daily Telegraph column. He also presents a game in which the Pirc Defense suffers badly against a direct assault. Malcolm Pein on…The FTX Crypto Cup The FTX Crypto Cup is sponsored by a cryptocurrency exchange and boasts a record $320,000 (£228,000) prize pot for an online […]
Malcolm Pein on…Celtic’s Crown
Malcolm Pein follows up his 4NCL semi-final report in today’s Daily Telegraph column. After a hard-fought season, it’s Celtic’s crown! Malcolm Pein on…Celtic’s Crown Celtic Tigers & Sharks won Division One of the third season of the 4NCL Online League, which featured some seven divisions and 264 teams. Having been fortunate to defeat Chessable White […]
Malcolm Pein on…Compensation
Malcolm Pein examines the art of gaining compensation in return for a pawn sacrifice in today’s Daily Telegraph column. Malcolm Pein on…Compensation Three extra pieces in play during the opening phase of the game is usually good compensation for a pawn, as this recent game from the Russian Team Championships demonstrates. Black should have declined the offer with 10…e3! […]
Malcolm Pein on…chess24 Horseplay
Malcolm Pein continues to investigate Dodgy goings-on in today’s Daily Telegraph column, as he examines the chess24 horseplay. Malcolm Pein on…chess24 Horseplay More fun and games from the second Mr Dodgy Invitational on Chess 24, in which a 16-player star-studded field went at it for little more than a picture of a Scottish chess player on […]
Malcolm Pein on…Dodgy Dealings
It is not often we see Malcolm Pein writing about Dodgy dealings, yet in today’s Daily Telegraph column that is precisely what we find. Who is Mr Dodgy – and how does he manage to persuade so many top chess players to compete for little more than a picture of him on a horse? Malcolm believes he has picked up the […]
Malcolm Pein on…Happy Endings
We all love happy endings! Therefore we can all take great pleasure from Malcolm Pein’s column in today’s Daily Telegraph. Malcolm Pein on…Happy Endings I write in praise of the magazine EG, founded in 1965 by British endgame study composer and luminary John Roycroft. The latest issue includes the study below, composed by Árpád Rusz, […]
Malcolm Pein on…A Straight Eight
In today’s Daily Telegraph column, Malcolm Pein returns to the Russian Team Championship and reports on a perfect score for the champions. Malcolm Pein on…A Straight Eight Mednyy Vsadnik, the Bronze Horseman from St. Petersburg, swept the field aside at the Russian Team Championship in Sochi, winning all eight matches. Moscow’s team finished second on 13/16, […]
Malcolm Pein on…The Young Guns Going For It
Malcolm Pein catches up with the recent 4NCL action in today’s Daily Telegraph column, as he reports on the ‘Young Guns going for it’ with a semi-final success. Malcolm Pein on…The Young Guns Going For It Celtic Tigers & Sharks faced Guildford Young Guns in the final of the 4NCL Online League. Three of the fancied sides […]
Malcolm Pein on…A Moscow Miniature
Malcolm Pein presents a Moscow miniature in today’s Daily Telegraph column and offers the opportunity to test your strength on a checkmate in seven moves. Malcolm Pein on…A Moscow Miniature More entertainment from the Russian Team Championships in Sochi. In the ninth and final round last Monday there was an epic king hunt as GM Ivan Popov won this memorable miniature. […]
Malcolm Pein on…Tal’s Tactics
Malcolm Pein remembers the great Mikhail Tal’s tactics in today’s Daily Telegraph column – and shows that having knowledge of the old masters and their games is still very worthwhile. Malcolm Pein on…Tal’s Tactics The chess historian Olimpiu Urcan has been posting some photos and footage of Mikhail Tal recently. The pictures reflect Tal’s energy […]
Malcolm Pein on…The Minority Report
In today’s Daily Telegraph column, Malcolm Pein examines the minority attack, which is an important chess strategy based on pawn structures. Today’s game features another example of the Baltic Defense. Malcolm Pein on…The Minority Report The ideas and themes employed in the Minority Attack, the assault on Black’s a, b and c-pawns by White’s a and b-pawns, […]
Malcolm Pein on…A Double Delight
Everyone loves unleashing a queen sacrifice in a game of chess. In today’s Daily Telegraph column, Malcolm Pein presents a rare case of two queen sacrifices in one game, offering a double delight for one of the players. Malcolm Pein on…A Double Delight It is always especially rewarding to be able to sacrifice one’s queen […]