Two players, 32 pieces, 64 squares.
The game of chess, thought to be derived from the Indian game of chaturanga – a precursor to the Persian chatrang which would spread through the Muslim world following the Islamic conquest of Persia – and dating back beyond the seventh century, has enthralled players for millennia.
The strategic thrill of the game has been given the Netflix treatment in the streaming platform's new seven-parter, The Queen's Gambit.
Based on American author Walter Tevis's 1983 book, the hit show follows Beth Harmon (played by Anya Taylor-Joy, 24), an orphaned chess prodigy living in 1960s Kentucky, as she blows through the male competition of the time to face down Grandmasters in the USSR on the world's stage, while battling her inner demons in private.
With the title of the book based on one of the oldest and most famous documented moves in chess, we look at 10 of the most celebrated strategic plays in the game.
1. The Queen’s Gambit
The moves: d4, d5, c4
The Queen's Gambit is one of the oldest known openings in chess. Mentioned in the 1490 Latin text, the Gottingen manuscript, it has been a main move in many Grandmaster's opening strategies, and was played in 32 out of 34 games in the 1927 World Championship match between Jose Raul Capablanca and Alexander Alekhine.
It is also known as the "Aleppo Gambit" in honour of Aleppo-born Philipp Stamma who wrote an early definitive book of chess, Essai sur le jeu des echecs (The Noble Game of Chess) in 1793.
2. English Opening
The move: c4
This flank opening gets its name from English player, Howard Staunton, who played it against Pierre Charles Fournier de Saint-Amant during their 1843 match, which caused a huge upset when the Englishman beat the French chess master.
Only in the 20th century did the move really catch on. Considered a solid opening, it has been used by World Champions Garry Kasparov and Bobby Fischer, among others.
3. The Four Knights Game
The moves: e4, e5, Nf3, Nc6, Nc3, Nf6
Utilising the “develop knights before bishops” strategy, the move is part of the “open game” – a play that opens with e4 and e5.
Having been popular before the First World War, the move came back into favour in the 1990s, moving the knights into positional play.
4. Albin Counter Gambit
The moves: d4, d5, c4, e5
This opening move takes its name from Romanian chess player, Adolf Albin, after he used it against German World Chess Champion, Emanuel Lasker in 1893.
The strategic move is an uncommon defence to the Queen’s Gambit, and although it was named for Albin, it was actually first played 12 years previously in 1881 by Italian master, Mattia Cavallotti.
5. Scotch Game
The moves: e4, e5, Nf3, Nc6, d4
The Scotch Game got its name from a correspondence match in 1824, whereby letters were sent between London and Edinburgh containing the moves.
However, the move actually predates that match, and was first mentioned in 1750 by Modenese Master, Domenico Ercole del Rio in his book, Sopra il giuoco degli Scacchi, Osservazioni pratiche d'anonimo Autore Modenese (On the game of Chess, practical Observations by an anonymous Modenese author).
The move has been employed by many Grandmasters – including Kasparov – to counter another famous move: the Ruy Lopez.
6. Ruy Lopez
The moves: e4, e5, Nf3, Nc6, Bb5
One of the most popular openings in chess was named for 16th-century Spanish priest Ruy Lopez de Segura.
Appearing in his 1561 book, Libro del Ajedrez (Book of Chess), like the Queen's Gambit, it is a move that had previously appeared in the famous Gottingen manuscript.
The play, whereby White’s third move attacks the knight, and which has been used by almost every top player during their career, is also known as “The Spanish Torture” due to the difficulty for Black in achieving equality.
7. King’s Indian Defence
The moves: d4, Nf6, c4, g6
This opener is known as a "hypermodern" move, which comes from the school of chess which developed post-First World War to challenge the chess ideas of central European masters.
Here, Black deliberately allows White control of the centre with their pawns. The move owes both its recent decline in popularity and subsequent resurgence to Russian Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik, who devised moves against it to defeat Kasparov in the ’90s – causing many players to abandon it – before going on to use it to successful effect on the Black side in 2012.
8. Scandinavian Defence
The moves: e4, d5
Also known as the "Centre Counter Defence", this is another old opening, having been mentioned in the poem Scachs d'amor (Chess of Love) back in 1475.
In the verse, written by Valencian poets, Francesc de Castellvi and Narcis Vinyoles, they imagine a game in which Mars and Venus play a game of chess using rules devised by Mercury, and is the first documented game played with the modern rules of chess.
In more modern times, it was Danish Grandmaster, Bent Larsen’s use of it against World Champion Anatoly Karpov in Montreal in 1979, which saw a resurgence in popularity.
9. The King’s Gambit
The moves: e4, e5, f4
A popular opening for over 300 years, the move has become more divisive in recent times and has largely fallen out of favour in the professional game.
In his famous 1961 article A Bust to the King's Gambit, US Grandmaster and chess prodigy, Bobby Fischer wrote: "In my opinion the King's Gambit is busted. It loses by force".
However, the move earned its place in chess history after it was used in a match dubbed “The Immortal Game” which took place in London in 1851. German chess master, Adolf Anderssen defeated the Baltic German player, Lionel Kieseritzky, by sacrificing both rooks, a bishop and his queen to checkmate Kieseritzky with just three minor pieces.
10. Giuoco Piano
The moves: e4, e5, Nf3, Nc6, Bc4, Bc5
In Italian, this opening move translates as “Quiet Game” and it has also been called the Italian Game.
Played as far back as the 16th century, it has, in more modern times, been overlooked in favour of the Ruy Lopez. An evolution of the move is the Giuoco Pianissimo – "Very Quiet Game" – a slower and more strategic opener.
The Good Liar
Starring: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen
Directed by: Bill Condon
Three out of five stars
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Bareilly Ki Barfi
Directed by: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring: Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao
Three and a half stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper
Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder (Cooper) / 2.0-litre four-cylinder (Cooper S)
Power: 136hp @ 4,500rpm (Cooper) / 192hp @ 5,000rpm (Cooper S)
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,480rpm (Cooper) / 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (Cooper S)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 4.8L to 5.4L / 100km
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Cashew%0D%3Cbr%3EStarted%3A%202020%0D%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Ibtissam%20Ouassif%20and%20Ammar%20Afif%0D%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3EIndustry%3A%20FinTech%0D%3Cbr%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%2410m%0D%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Mashreq%2C%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
if you go
The flights
Emirates have direct flights from Dubai to Glasgow from Dh3,115. Alternatively, if you want to see a bit of Edinburgh first, then you can fly there direct with Etihad from Abu Dhabi.
The hotel
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Located in the heart of Mackintosh's Glasgow, the Dakota Deluxe is perhaps the most refined hotel anywhere in the city. Doubles from Dh850
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Events and tours
There are various Mackintosh specific events throughout 2018 – for more details and to see a map of his surviving designs see glasgowmackintosh.com
For walking tours focussing on the Glasgow Style, see the website of the Glasgow School of Art.
More information
For ideas on planning a trip to Scotland, visit www.visitscotland.com
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
