A King's Journey

You really do not want to be seen reading a chess book on a public bus.
I’ve done that a few times, it is a mistake and not a pleasant experience.

Your fellow passengers think you are a right weirdo and shift seats. Eventually
the bus bully, and there is one on every bus, will grab the book out of your hands
and whack you around the chops with it. I’ve stopped reading chess books on buses.
Now I read a standard issue normal book like; ‘A King’s Journey’ by Tony Boucher.


This one is a semi-fictional tale concerning the Lewis Chessmen.

Instead of repeating the often told folk tale of who carved them, found
them and sold them (A Norwegian, A farmer and an antiques dealer)
the author goes about filling in the many gaps with what ‘really’ happened.

A Walrus is decapitated, one of its tusks (Artic Gold) was yanked from its skull.
This tusk was carved into a King and it is this King that narrates to us the story.


A rather unique take on the maxim; ‘listen to your pieces.’ A King is telling the story.
(You might now be thinking this is a ‘Noggin the Nog’ kids book. It is not a kids book!)

The King tells us tales of murder, rape, executions, pirates, curses and threats of
excommunication. Not forgetting robbery, greed, the Highland clearances, haggling
and how by pure chance he ended up being pulled from a hat and put on display in
the Scottish National Museum (which is about 500 yards from where I live.)

A good book, I enjoyed it. .You do not need to know the history of the Lewis men
to get into the book. In fact all historians know for certain is a Norwegian, A farmer
and an antiques dealer were involved. This book put flesh onto these people as well
as introducing you to many other characters who may or may not have played their part.

Well recommended! And you know me, if I thought it was naff then I would say so.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kings-Journey-Tony-Boucher/dp/1068372605


I’m in a good mood so you get an easy one from V. Kovalenko

White to play and mate in three moves...not four or five moves...three moves.
Reveal Hidden Content

For this next one you have 5 seconds. It is from a beginner’s primer

Quickly. Where do move as White to draw this 1.Kc1 or 1.Kc2
Reveal Hidden Content

White got it right in Olgerts - alexnbg72 RHP 2007

70 Kc8 and draw agreed. 70 Kc7 would have lost.

In Jedisharp - sugababe RHP 2018

After73 Kc1 Black spent 20 moves trying to win it before giving up.
What you have to remember is that the Knight cannot lose a tempo.

We end the puzzle bit with wonderful piece of work by N. D Grigoriev 1926.

White to play and win. The idea in this one is well worth storing.



Are these studies any good for practical play? Yes and here is the proof

Thanks to two intrepid Red Hot Players the instructive value of this blog will now
reach astronomical heights. Those of you lucky enough to see this will thank me
and forever think of me. You will name your children and your pet parrot after me

lbthree - NoFriendsPete RHP 2022

The thread accompanying this blog is Thread 203272