Time for another pawn ending.

This is from Arthur Kendall – Harvey Li (Sussex University Masters R3 21 July 2026), with Black to move.

Play continued 40… b5 41. Kg3 h5 42. h4 g4 and the game was drawn a few moves later.

Your thoughts, please.

In a helpmate in 2 moves Black plays the first move, and you’re looking for a BWBW sequence ending in mate. In this case there are THREE solutions so you’re looking for three such sequences.

Here they are: in helpmate notation move 1 is BW, not WB.

a) 1. Rxd4 Bxd5 2. Kxd5 Re5#
b) 1. Rxe6 Bxd6+ 2. Kxd6 Rxd5#
c) 1. Kxd4 Rxe3 2. Kxe3 Bg1#

This is a 3×2 cyclic Zilahi (the white piece that delivers mate in one solution is captured by Black in another solution), a threefold Kniest theme (White captures a black piece on the square where checkmate is delivered) with model mates (every piece on the attacking side (except the king and pawns) actively participates, and the squares around the enemy king are attacked only once)

As you may know, we’re running some trial sessions for a potential new group for older children and families during the summer.

Younger children in this area are well catered for by primary school clubs, and, for ambitious players, Richmond Junior Club, who do a great job serving this market.

Chess is now becoming more popular with both younger adults and older children, and we believe there’s now a gap in the market for a group for 11-16 year olds, for whom the main club might be too late in the evening or too intimidating.

We’re running FREE trial sessions for five weeks, from this Thursday, 30 July, from 5:15 to 7:15, to ascertain the level of interest for a club of this nature.

If you have children of this age group (we’ll also accept younger children as long as they’re playing seriously at home) please bring them along.

More information here.

Perhaps the most popular problem genre today is the HELPMATE, in which both sides work together to produce a checkmate position.

The latest issue of The Problemist includes the British Chess Problem Society awards for the best helpmates in 2 moves published within its pages in 2024 and 2025.

Here’s the 2025 first prize winner.

In a helpmate in 2 moves Black plays the first move, and you’re looking for a BWBW sequence ending in mate. In this case there are THREE solutions so you’re looking for three such sequences.

There are several distinct patterns involved here. Once you’ve discovered the solutions you should admire the construction as well.

If you’ve never solved a helpmate before, do have a go at this one!

Bodhana Sivanandan (ENG: 2303) – MarcAndria Maurizzi (FRA: 2628)
DOLE Open Aix-en-Provence 2026 R1 18-07-2026

Black’s last move, 27… Qb6 was an oversight in a marginally better position, and Bodhana was quick to take advantage.

Her winning continuation was 28. b4! Qxb4 29. Nd5!

Congratulations to everyone who found the solution. You have to see three move tactics like this all the time, but very occasionally even 2600+ rated GMs sometimes miss them.

Here’s the complete game. As always, click on any move for a pop-up window.

Bodhana Sivanandan (ENG: 2303) – MarcAndria Maurizzi (FRA: 2628)
DOLE Open Aix-en-Provence 2026 R1 18-07-2026

How did Bodhana (White, to play) beat a top French GM from this position on Saturday?

#40 Banaszek, Marcin
1^st HM Gazeta Częstochowska 1966

I offered you a mate in 40 for our 400th puzzle.

Congratulations to David for finding the first three moves, and especially to Maks for working out the complete solution, which you can play through here. Click on any move for a pop-up window.

For our 400th puzzle I thought I should post a Mate in 400, but I wasn’t able to find anything suitable, so decided to divide by 10 and offer a mate in 40 from 60 years ago instead.

You’re going to have to play a lot of checks on the long diagonal, so the first few moves shouldn’t be too hard to find.

After that it’s all about going upstairs and downstairs to clear the a-file and then deliver checkmate. The quickest way to do this takes exactly 40 moves.

Here’s the solution to Monday’s problem, copied from YACPDB (Yet Another Chess Problem DataBase).

If you’re interested you’ll find more Nabokov problems here.

Our much delayed final match of the season, a rearranged London League match against Hammersmith, took place on Tuesday 7 July.

With little at stake for either side, the Hammers weren’t at full strength, resulting in a match between two evenly matched teams.

You’ll see that we went down to a narrow defeat, but there were excellent wins from Iain and Chris.

Thanks to all who played for our London League team throughout what has been a sad and difficult season following Gavin’s sudden death last summer. Thanks, especially, to Sampson for captaining the team along with all the other work he’s done for both the club and the Thames Valley League this year.

If you know anyone of 2000+ strength who’d like to play for our first teams in any or all of the London, Thames Valley and Surrey Leagues, do get in touch.

We look forward to seeing you all again over the board next season.