chess

At a recent exclusive chess lecture, at a private address in West London, the speaker surprised his audience with some fascinating analysis of an unusual position. It was the normal starting position for a chess game, but with all the pawns removed. And the speaker was a normal ex- world champion, but at snooker not chess.

Swapping the green baize for a chequered table, Steve Davis has been taking chess lessons from grandmaster David Norwood as part of their collaboration on a book to be published later this month.

A considered review of Steve Davis Plays Chess will appear here at a later date. For the moment, let us just record that, in the position mentioned, none of the obvious 1.Rxa8, 1.Rxh8 and 1.Qxd8+ leads to more than a drawn endgame a piece ahead, but Steve Davis's 1.Bb5+ (played, ideally, with a good deal of side on the bishop in order to take it nearer the centre pocket at e8) gives good winning prospects.

And before you ask, we have no information on how David Norwood's snooker is coming along.