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Can YOU play like an expert?
Try our "Spot the Next Move" challenge



Even the top players sometimes have off-days, when they fail to spot their opponent's crafty plans and discover that - what they thought was an unassailable position on the board - was really nothing of the sort.

You don't have to be an expert chess player to make your mark at the annual World Circular Chess Championships. All you need is a cool head, a bit of luck, and a comfy chair.

So how would you measure up in next year's championship finals?

To find out, why not try our "SPOT THE NEXT MOVE" challenge.

Take a look at these (jumbled up) snapshots from a recent championship game, between Hertfordshire county player John Beasley and Lincolnshire stalwart David Carew (not pictured above).

Remember that tournament games are played on the clock, and each player has 30 minutes in which to complete their game. So give yourself between 2 and 5 minutes to think about the options, and then click on the link to see if you were able to predict the (devastatingly clever) next move.


Challenge #1

Move 25: Black moved the Rook from the inner a-ring onto the c-ring. Can you spot White's move?


Were you right? Wt. Knight (d14) to c16 (ready to attack bk.Rook at b2)

Hold the cursor over the annotated board for the answer



Challenge #2

Move 50: wt. Knight was on the move, presumably to guard an advance by wt.Bishop. But can you see bk's battle plan yet?


bk. Bishop (c8) to d9, a cunning move because bk. intends to replace its Queen with the bishop and break wt's. defences

Hold the cursor over the annotated board for the answer



Challenge #3

Move 32: Wt. advanced a pawn on the a-ring towards bk. Rook.
What was bk's riposte?


Did you spot it? Bk. Bishop (a10) to d7, leaving options open on the western flank.

Hold the cursor over the annotated board for the answer



Challenge #4

Move 62: wt. resigned at this point. But how many different options did bk. have to win?


1. bk.Queen (c13) x pawn (b12) checkmate, 2. bk Rook (b9) x wt pawn (b14), 3. bk.Bishop (a12) to c14, captures wt. Queen.

Hold the cursor over the annotated board for the answer



Challenge #5

Move 40: wt. was looking to strengthen its defences.
What was bk's next move?


This is what happened ... bk. Knight (b10) to a12, threatening checkmate on the next move (c13)

Hold the cursor over the annotated board for the answer


Did the experts agree with you? Or maybe you spotted something that they missed. Why not enter next year's tournament, and show them how it should be done?

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