Yes, Edna, if there was a motto that best summarises your way of looking at life, it should be: peace, love, and tiramisus

Courtesy of Craiyon LLC

The In Between

陈冲 (Joan Chén) being made up by 李威廉 (William Lee), while 孙周 (Sūn Zhōu) and 张海儿 (Zhāng Hǎi’er) watching, 龙华宾馆 (Lónghuá Hotel), 上海 (Shànghǎi), 1999. Photo © 张海儿 (Zhāng Hǎi’er). Courtesy of Photography of China.

Yet, Edna, with so many billionaires and multimillionaires around the world, one has every right to think that it is better to ask for alms than to work

Artwork © popcomicshop

In a Wing Chair

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)

Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 2; 上海 (Shànghǎi), April 4, 2025

English Opening A29

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Bc5 7. 0-0 0-0 8. d3 h6 9. Nxd5 Qxd5 10. Bd2 Qd6 11. Bc3 Qe7 12. Nd2 Nd4 13. e3 Nb5 14. a4 Nxc3 15. bxc3 c6 16. a5 Bd7 17. Qb3 Rab8 18. Ne4 Bd6 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. d4 b6 21. axb6 axb6 22. Ra7 Be6 23. Qa4 Rfc8 24. Rb1 Bd5 (24. ... b5 25. Qa6 h5 26. h4 Bc4=)
25. dxe5 Qxe5 26. Qd4 Qxd4 27. exd4 Bxg2 28. Kxg2 b5 29. Re1 Ra8 30. Ree7 Rxa7 31. Rxa7 c5 32. Kf3 cxd4 33. cxd4 Kf8 34. Rb7 Rc3+ 35. Ke4 Rc2 36. Ke3 Rc3+ 37. Kd2 Rf3 38. Ke2

38. ... Rf5!? Many commentators were surprised by 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)’s solution. It may work, after all, but 38. ... Rb3! was much easier and more thematic; for example: 39. d5 Ke8 40. d6 Ra3 41. Rxb5 g6 42. Re5+ Kd7 43. Re7+ Kxd6 44. Rxf7 Ke6 with a draw coming soon.
39. Ke3 h5 40. f4

40. ... Ke8? No wonder Judit Polgár did not miss the critical moment: “This is move 40 — how typical it is that you make a serious mistake on move 40!”. 40. ... b4!! 41. Kxb4 Ra5 was now the only way to go for a draw.
41. Ke4 Rf6 42. Rxb5 g6 43. d5 Ra6 44. Ke5 f6+ 45. Kd4 Ra2 46. Kc5 Rxh2 47. Rb8+ Kd7 48. Rb7+ Kc8 49. Rg7 g5 50. f5! Of course not 50. fxg5?? in view of 50. ... fxg5 51. Rxg5 h4 forcing a draw.
50. ... h4 51. gxh4 gxh4 52. Rh7 h3. With a salvific intention, for a salvific twisting: Δ ... Rh2-c2+ followed by ... h3-h2 saving the day with a draw.

53. Kd6! Kb8 54. Kd7 Kb7 55. d6 Kb6 56. Kd8 Rh1 57. d7 h2 58. Rh3 Kb7 59. Rb3+ Ka7 60. Rb2 Ka6 61. Re2 Kb7 62. Ke7 1–0.

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) took such merciless advantage of her opponent’s hesitations and inaccuracies. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE.

Of course, Edna, when the going gets tough, the tough get going

Artwork © Beyza Koçak

First is not best

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)

Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 1; 上海 (Shànghǎi), April 3, 2025

Sicilian Defence B40

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bf4 d5 8. Nd2 g6 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 Be7 11. 0-0 a5 12. Qe2 0-0 13. Rad1 Nd7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. c4 Ne5 16. exd5 Nxd3 17. Qxd3 cxd5

18. Qe3! 18. cxd5 Ba6 19. Nc4 exd5 20. Qxd5 Rfd8 would give Black more than enough compensation for the Pawn.
18. ... Qg5! 19. Qxg5 hxg5 20. cxd5 exd5 21. Rfe1 (21. Nf3 g4 22. Nd4 Re8)
21. ... Rb8 22. b3 g4 23. Nf1

23. ... a4! 24. bxa4 Rb4 25. a5 Ra4. As Judit Polgár noted, “It’s frustrating to defend something which is completely drawish — just because objectively it is it doesn’t mean that you can hold it!”.
26. Rxd5 Be6 27. Rc5 Rxa2 28. Ne3 Ra8 29. Nd5 R8xa5 30. Rxa5 Rxa5 31. Nf4 Bf5 32. h3 gxh3 33. Nxh3 Bxh3 34. gxh3 Kg7 35. Kg2 Rg5+ 36. Kf3 Rf5+ 37. Kg2 Rg5+ 38. Kf3 Rf5+ 39. Kg2 ½–½.

Despite playing Black, the challenger held her own, with apparent ease, throughout the whole game. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE.

What say, Edna? May the best lady win — whoever she may be

Artwork © Nutting Over Lovejoy

Through the Looking Glasses

Be confident, Edna: he will raise tariffs against everyone except you, without demanding, in return, any of your conscious attentions

Artwork © addictedtodisney.uk (@addictedtodisney.uk)

Giraffe Reflections