Chess puzzle: checkmate in two moves

This week’s puzzle is a chance to enter an annual national competition in which Guardian readers traditionally perform well and in considerable numbers. White in the diagram, playing as usual up the board, is to play and checkmate in two moves, against any black defence.

The puzzle is the first stage of the annual Winton British Solving Championship, organised by the British Chess Problem Society and sponsored by investment managers Winton. This competition is only open to British residents and entry is free. To take part, simply send White’s first move by post to Nigel Dennis, Boundary House, 230 Greys Road, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 1QY, or by email to [email protected].

All entries must be postmarked or emailed no later than 31 July 2026, and provide the entrant’s name and home address. Juniors under 18 on 31 August 2025 must also give their date of birth. Please mark your entry “Guardian”. Receipt of the solution will be acknowledged after the closing date, when all competitors will receive the answer. Those who get it right will also be sent the postal round of eight harder problems, with plenty of time for solving.

The best 15-20 players from the postal round, plus the best juniors, will be invited to the final at Harrow school on Saturday 13 February 2027, where the prize money is expected to be at least £1,600. The winner of the final will have the right to represent Great Britain at the 2027 world solving championships, an event where GB is often a medal contender. In 2024 the GB team of John Nunn (individual silver medal), David Hodge (2024 British Solving Champion) and Jonathan Mestel won the team gold for the first time since 2007.

The starter problem is tricky, with some near misses to avoid. Obvious first move choices may not work. It is easy to make an error, so double- and treble-check your answer before sending it. Good luck to all Guardian entrants.

Harry Grieve became England’s latest grandmaster on Tuesday when the 25-year-old, who was British champion in 2022 and helped CSC/Kingston finish second in this season’s UK 4NCL League, won first prize in Budapest with a 7/9 total.

Grieve got his first GM norm along with his British title at Torquay 2022 , and his second in 2023 when playing for The Sharks in the 4NCL, but the third norm proved elusive despite several near-misses. Last summer he achieved a 2500 rating, which is a mandatory requirement for grandmasters, and he finally reached his target on Tuesday. There was a moment of doubt due to a round seven loss, but Grieve then rose to the occasion, defeating a Ukrainian GM in fine style with the decisive tactic 32 Rxf6+!

Back in the 1950s most top English players were amateurs, often civil servants or teachers, who competed in tournaments during their vacations. After the 1970s Fischer boom and English successes brought an influx of sponsors, chess professionals could earn a decent living, but the tide turned again during the 1990s. The breakup of the USSR brought harder international competition, while Nigel Short’s world title defeat and the move to screen rather than print marketing drove sponsors away.

Now the trend has come full circle. It is understood that Grieve and his Cambridge colleague Matthew Wadsworth will follow other 2500-rated GMs who combine chess with a full-time career in banking, investment, AI, or other major professions.