A Fairy Tail Of Stourbridge Junction

Welcome to #Hedgewatch Sunny, we’re delighted to have you on the Team. Happy Hedgewatching 🤗🌳

rtchessclub.com/2025/12/15/c... As it's nearly Christmas this week's puzzle introduces you to Swiss GM and coach Noël Studer.

minorpieces.uk/2025/12/10/m... Augusta Talboys was a chess-playing artist whose paintings sometimes featured kittens on the chessboard. Discover more about her life, art and chess here.

Blog posted. www.chess.com/blog/simagin...

Good morning & welcome to Roast Dinner Day Good things come to those who believe, better things come to those who are patient, and the best things come to those who don't give up. *3rd breakfast theory

Blog posted. Enjoy. www.chess.com/blog/simagin...

rtchessclub.com/2025/12/05/c... Did you find the best continuation in Monday's puzzle? Click here to find out.

OTD in 1994 The Budapest Memorandum was signed. It remains the most spectacular waste of paper, ink, and geopolitical optimism in the history of humankind. ​The deal was simple: Ukraine disarms. Russia, the UK, and the USA promised, in return, to guarantee our security and territorial integrity.

Daily #chess puzzle: Can you find the forced checkmate? chesspuzzle.net/Puzzle/1047573

GOTD. Doing some work for a blog. This is a quite extraordinary save!

rtchessclub.com/2025/11/28/c... How many points did you score in Monday's puzzle?

Night night sweet dreamies I admire people who’ve lived through hard things and didn’t let the pain harden their hearts. Let’s be those people. Always

www.chess.com/blog/simagin... Chess in Weston-super-Mare (with a plug for my Minor Pieces)

minorpieces.uk/2025/11/24/m... My latest Minor Piece features Annie Mabel Gooding of Cheltenham, who played in ladies' chess tournaments over a period of 25 years, and had draws against Blackburne, Lasker and Capablanca to her name.

This beautiful pocket-sized 'biographical portrait of two brilliant young chess masters' Harry Pillsbury (US) & Rudolf Charousek (Czech/Hungarian), 1914 for #ChessTuesday From the @englishchess.bsky.social Library. #chesshistory #chessliterature @richardjameschess.bsky.social @librarydmu.bsky.social

GOTD. The wonderful Zagorovsky was not only a c.c. legend - he was a fine player over the board as well. A forgotten gem.

New blog posted. I hope you enjoy it! www.chess.com/blog/simagin...

♟️ This #ChessTuesday we have a #throwback to the 83rd @englishchess.bsky.social Championships held at the University of #Nottingham & a great shot of the Notts #Chess Association. See anyone you know? FRom the ECF Library. @librarydmu.bsky.social #chesshistory #chessliterature

minorpieces.uk/2025/11/09/m... A 1913 photograph shows two players whose combined lives spanned 171 years. Discover their stories here.

Blog posted. I hope you enjoy it. www.chess.com/blog/simagin...

We will remember them Not just today, but in every quiet moment. In stories passed down, in poppies worn with pride In the silence that speaks louder than words Their courage shaped our peace. Their sacrifice lives on Today & Forever

GOTD. One from my chess youth! A rare example of the theme 'self fork'.

In the days before portable electronic devices and the internet, touring was often a fairly boring affair. Here Evan Gray, Jeremy Coney and Ewen Chatfield show off the mass of videos the New Zealand squad too with them to Pakistan in 1984 to fill the long evenings

GOTD. The wonderful Michael Basman - what a player he was, and quite a character. A double exchange sacrifice against a rising start of world chess at the time. I hope you spot the lovely little point if the second exchange is taken.

GOTD. 'Just a draw', but what a game!

#Chess and music have long shared a connection, the game often called silent music or a mental dance. For those curious to try all at the same time this #ChessTuesday, here’s the Caïssa Waltz, by Walter Pulitzer, 1897. From the @englishchess.bsky.social #chesshistory #chessliterature

GOTD. This Gipslis game came to mind just this week, when I watched a top level game 'live' with the Hungarian Defence. As I commented on a game 2 decades ago - 'yesterday's load of old rubbish is today's deep subtlety! Go figure. And some nice Queen 'creeping moves'.

A strong stance from @garrykasparov.bsky.social, on Kramnik and his campaign against Naroditsky. "I don’t know how he can appear at any chess tournament now. He’s become untouchable." Original: www.youtube.com/live/1NVDy-D... In English, via the great Leonard Barden: www.ft.com/content/cf99...

GOTD. Working on another pupil of Koblencs - Gipslis. This is a masterpiece! What a beautiful game.

Heartfelt thoughts tonight for everyone affected by the awful incident on board the LNER service near Huntingdon. Thank you to the first responders and railway colleagues who showed such courage and care. Holding all those involved in our hearts

Adopt, don’t shop!!! ❤️

Happy #NationalCatDay to all my fabulous feline friends! A huge thank you to everyone involved in rescuing, caring for, and rehabilitating kitties everywhere Coincidentally, it also happens to be National “Give George Extra Treatos” Day

One of the earliest photographs of cricket in India, showing British army officers playing on the parade ground in Kohat (now in Pakistan). This was taken by Major Keyes of the 1st Punjab Infantry between 1862 and 1864

rtchessclub.com/2025/10/23/2... Three wins from three matches this week. The results plus a brilliant game for your enjoyment.

rtchessclub.com/2025/10/24/c... I'm sure you managed to find the forced mate missed by Caruana in Monday's puzzle.

GOTD. Still going over Koblencs games - this one is a beauty!

Cutie Patooty 6 month old Tina is looking for a forever home. 💖 #macjapreja #adoptdontshop #cats #kittens #mačke #koper #slovenija #gatti #gattile #capodistria #catsofx #CatsofBlueSky

Tragic news as Daniel Naroditsky, the popular U.S. grandmaster, commentator, creator, educator, and author, unexpectedly passed away on Sunday at the age of only 29. www.chess.com/news/view/gr...

Good Morning & welcome to marvellous marmalade Monday New week. New energy. Speak kindly, walk confidently, and treat yourself like someone worth cheering for, because you are

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GOTD. Still working on the Koblencs material. I like to include a 'fun game' in such blogs - this one fits the bill. Absolutely mad game!

GOTD. A bit more Koblencs - the blog is work in progress. When I post it I will point out some of the tactics here.