january 6 2026
In this new year, it is customary to wish for even more chess problems than the previous year, so it is with pleasure that I comply with this rule.
We warmed up our brains with a story about bishops that took us quite a while (see the first three exercises in the December course), ending with bishop versus pawns with some high-flying variations.
Next up was a magnificent study with reduced material by Tiavlovski, and to finish off the corrections, a very old composition that is always a pleasure to solve.
The game of the day was based on the poisoned pawn in the Sicilian Defence, and it would be an understatement to say that the audience went wild over the variations!
The Master ended with the traditional fairy, including, among other things, a composition in which there are only neutral pieces (!!), which is quite unsettling.
Happy reading, everyone, and see you onJanuary 31, 2026.
Master's word
Civilisation, tranquillity, beauty: these are the things that delight us in the city of Graz, which I had the pleasure of visiting recently. Qualities that are increasingly rare in French cities. To accompany my best wishes for the New Year (2025 was difficult, but 2026 will be even ‘worse’, according to Mrs Meloni), allow me to introduce my new ‘Verlobte’ and, of course, to pay tribute to the Austrian problemists: H. Lepuschütz (my favourite, who was born in Graz), St. Schneider, A. Johandl, J. Halumbirek, and of course C. Gamnitzer, who holds the record for selections in our course. And let us celebrate the grandmaster Andreas Dückstein, who recently passed away at the age of 97 (aren't endgames, of which he was a specialist, good for your health?).
“2025 tosto, ma il 2026 sarà molto peggio” (G. Meloni).
"If I repeat myself, I shall die -- Then withdraw, I shall apologise to the audience -- Do not do that. I shall sing. But I am a dead woman." (Maria-Felicia Garcia, dite la Malibran).
"You were sweet to me, yes you were, but on the other hand, you was real cold, cold, cold" https://youtu.be/r_Kb607VNKM Don't confuse Phoenix with Phenix!
"France needs an exorcism; it is a country possessed by the demon of socialism, egalitarianism, and hatred of everything that is honest, pious, heroic, beautiful, superior, or hard-working." (N. Bonnal).
"When bishops have the courage of women, women must have the courage of bishops." (H. de Montherlant).
"If I retreat, kill me; if I advance, follow me; if I die, avenge me." (Henri du Vergier, comte de La Rochejaquelein).
"The company discards its unfulfilled promises and jealously guards its waste." (G. Thibon, about abortion and the death penalty).
"The day a foetus rapes and murders a little girl, I will be in favour of abortion." (S. de Beketch).
"Aren't you Mister Maïsès? ? -- No, I am Maïster Miiiesès." (Jacques Mieses)
"If Tal learned to program himself, he would become unbeatable" (M. Botvinnik after the 1961 rematch).
A fascinating story of Bishops with some nice echoing pawn moves, white (a4-a5, b3-b4) and black (...a6-a5, ...b6-b5)! A case of ‘good-bad’ between the variations of the 43rd and 46th moves, depending on whether a black pawn is on d3 or d4. Of course, the necessary ZZ on the 45th and 46th moves. A case of ‘left-right’ on the 51st move. And many other oddities... Is it ‘the bishop endgame that drives you mad’? Enjoy. And reread https://lecoursdumaitre.e-monsite.com/pages/cours/cat-2019/1er-octobre-2019.html (2nd diagram).
Much easier: a fight between Bishop and Knight with underpromotion and stalemate, then a little heavy piece play from the great woodcutter.
For next month: a pawn endgame, a 2P/R and 2 rescues... less straightforward.
Bruno Parma, as Quinteros, sacrifices a Rook against Fischer... https://lecoursdumaitre.e-monsite.com/pages/cours/cat-2003/21-janvier-2003.html but, unlike his Argentine colleague, he does not lose. He tries again two years later against... someone else. He does better! The closing move is reminiscent of Minski's study seen in the last lesson, with the same white piece and the same square involved. Don't miss another artistic study in 12 Nb3, 20...Qe5!.
The first fairy is quite tough, but everything is explained.!
Training: the 2# are a bit more challenging than last month. Have the most tries 2e, 3e, 4e, 5e, 8e, 9e, 10e et 11e.
The Austrian series has been announced, and as a special exception, we are leaving the solutions so that you too can enjoy ‘Schachlogik’ (nothing is stopping you from hiding them; in fact, we highly recommend it). In several of them, the published version has been corrected. No helpmate this time, but a brilliant conclusion with a 5-move selfmate from our regular contributor.
Brigitte, the only Frenchwoman known and loved throughout the world for 70 years, has just left us. We will miss her charm, her courage, and her way of telling the truth no matter what the cost. See an excerpt from 29-09-2020. Let us also remember her definition of the art of being French (photo attached). May God rest her soul.
Enjoy your meal. Frohes neues Jahr. Srečno novo leto. Feliz Año Nuevo. Deus vos custodiat.
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