Richard James
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richardjameschess.bsky.social
Richard James
@richardjameschess.bsky.social
480 followers 1.5K following 1K posts
Chess player, organiser, teacher, writer, historian. Investigating the intersection between chess and childhood. Reading old newspapers so that you don't have to. Also crosswords, music (classical & folk), genealogy etc. https://richard915.substack.com
richard915.substack.com
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Richard James @richardjameschess.bsky.social · Nov 19
richard915.substack.com/p/introduction
I've just launched a Substack discussing the intersection between chess and childhood through the perspective of my long involvement with children's chess. #chess #chesspost #EduSky
Introduction
I’m Richard James. I'm writing about the intersection between chess and childhood.
richard915.substack.com
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richardjameschess.bsky.social
Richard James @richardjameschess.bsky.social · 2h
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/o...
Chess: Fide to ‘discipline’ Kramnik over Naroditsky cheating allegations
The Fide president, Arkady Dvorkovich, said that Kramnik, who is accused of unfounded allegations against Naroditsky, will be referred to its ethics disciplinary committee
www.theguardian.com
richardjameschess.bsky.social
Richard James @richardjameschess.bsky.social · 4h
DNA links this morning with 5th cousin once removed Jo-Anne from Port Macquarie, New South Wales, and with 4th cousin once removed Martin, born in Coalville, married in Stoke on Trent.
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richtwickchess.bsky.social
Richmond & Twickenham Chess Club @richtwickchess.bsky.social · 4h
rtchessclub.com/2025/10/24/c...

I'm sure you managed to find the forced mate missed by Caruana in Monday's puzzle.
Chess Puzzle of the Week (362): Solution
This is Caruana – So, played last Saturday in the US Championship. Caruana only managed to draw from this position, but I’m sure that, if you had enough time on the clock, you would have done bette…
rtchessclub.com
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richtwickchess.bsky.social
Richmond & Twickenham Chess Club @richtwickchess.bsky.social · 1d
rtchessclub.com/2025/10/23/2...

Three wins from three matches this week.

The results plus a brilliant game for your enjoyment.
2025-26 Results Bulletin (5)
After last week’s results it’s good to be able to report three wins from three matches this week. Our Thames Valley B team welcomed Hounslow A to the Adelaide on Tuesday for their retur…
rtchessclub.com
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richardjameschess.bsky.social
Richard James @richardjameschess.bsky.social · 1d
www.youtube.com/channel/UC0n...
Michael Basman Legacy
International Master Michael Basman, who died on 26 October 2022 at the age of 76, was an innovator who passed on his love and deep knowledge of the game to countless players in Surrey and beyond. He ...
www.youtube.com
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richardjameschess.bsky.social
Richard James @richardjameschess.bsky.social · 1d
richardjames.smugmug.com/Kew-Gardens-...

Today's walk was in Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens 22-10-25 - Richard James
This gallery hosted by SmugMug; your photos look better here.
richardjames.smugmug.com
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neofight78.bsky.social
William Hoggarth @neofight78.bsky.social · 3d
Great post by @richardjameschess.bsky.social highlighting some of the real problems with how we are raising our children. We’ve struggled to get our daughter the social life she needs because her peers have little time left over after their crammed schedule.

open.substack.com/pub/richard9...
Pushy Parents and Third Spaces
There have been a couple of articles in the Guardian over the past few days touching on the subject of young people’s lives outside school.
open.substack.com
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dmuspecialcolls.bsky.social
DMU Archives and Rare Books @dmuspecialcolls.bsky.social · 3d
'You can't dance at two weddings at the same time' From trophies to cha cha #chess wisdom this #ChessTuesday with The Wisest Things Ever Said About Chess, 2008. From the @englishchess.bsky.social Library @richardjameschess.bsky.social
@librarydmu.bsky.social #chesshistory #chessliterature
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richardjameschess.bsky.social
Richard James @richardjameschess.bsky.social · 4d
Until recently there was a pizza place near me called Folded. Guess what: it folded!
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richtwickchess.bsky.social
Richmond & Twickenham Chess Club @richtwickchess.bsky.social · 4d
rtchessclub.com/2025/10/20/c...

Are you fabber than Fabi?

I'm sure you are: find out by solving this week's puzzle.
Chess Puzzle of the Week (362)
Are you fabber than Fabi? This is Caruana – So, played on Saturday in the US Championship. Caruana only managed to draw from this position, but I’m sure you could have done better. Whit…
rtchessclub.com
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richardjameschess.bsky.social
Richard James @richardjameschess.bsky.social · 4d
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
‘You can learn a lot by losing’: meet Don Manuel, the 104-year-old chess player
Manuel Álvarez Escudero, from Spain, describes how the board game has provided him with a lifetime of fun and friendship
www.theguardian.com
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richardjameschess.bsky.social
Richard James @richardjameschess.bsky.social · 4d
I'm well - and busy trying to move house, after which I'll have more time than this sort of thing. Of course, Twickenham and Wigan are very different places.
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richardjameschess.bsky.social
Richard James @richardjameschess.bsky.social · 5d
open.substack.com/pub/richard9...
Pushy Parents and Third Spaces
There have been a couple of articles in the Guardian over the past few days touching on the subject of young people’s lives outside school.
open.substack.com
1 1
Reposted by Richard James
hmhbinfo.bsky.social
Half Man Half Biscuit Information Service @hmhbinfo.bsky.social · 6d
Something for the weekend: Bad Losers on Yahoo! Chess #HMHB youtu.be/XTjfF9TJtUg?...
Half Man Half Biscuit - Bad Losers on Yahoo! Chess [Official Audio]
YouTube video by Half Man Half Biscuit
youtu.be
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richardjameschess.bsky.social
Richard James @richardjameschess.bsky.social · 6d
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/o...
Chess: Ukraine soldier grandmaster wins gold medal at European team championships
Igor Kovalenko, 36, the world No 48 with a Fide rating of 2669, has been a frontline soldier for three years and only began playing again a month ago
www.theguardian.com
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richardjameschess.bsky.social
Richard James @richardjameschess.bsky.social · 7d
richardjames.smugmug.com/Bushy-Park-1...

Today's walk was in Bushy Park
Bushy Park 17-10-25 - Richard James
This gallery hosted by SmugMug; your photos look better here.
richardjames.smugmug.com
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richtwickchess.bsky.social
Richmond & Twickenham Chess Club @richtwickchess.bsky.social · 7d
rtchessclub.com/2025/10/17/c...

Did you find the hidden queen sacrifice in Monday's puzzle position?
Chess Puzzle of the Week (361): Solution
In the game Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis (Greece) – Gawain Maroroa Jones (England) from the recently concluded European Team Championships, White missed an opportunity. White is a pawn up, but Black…
rtchessclub.com
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richardjameschess.bsky.social
Richard James @richardjameschess.bsky.social · 7d
Small Boy (about 500 strength, obsessed with learning lots of different openings): What should I do to improve my chess?

Me: Forget about openings: solve lots of tactics puzzles.

Small Boy: Levy Rozman says puzzles are rubbish.
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richtwickchess.bsky.social
Richmond & Twickenham Chess Club @richtwickchess.bsky.social · 8d
rtchessclub.com/2025/10/16/2...
2025-26 Results Bulletin (4)
A difficult week for us. Two matches, ten boards and ten losses, but for different reasons. On Monday our Thames Valley A team visited Maidenhead A, who were at full strength. Except that it was ac…
rtchessclub.com
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richardjameschess.bsky.social
Richard James @richardjameschess.bsky.social · 8d
From today's Guardian Cryptic Crossword (Brendan)

Move king to safety, as last resort, inside church (6)
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richardjameschess.bsky.social
Richard James @richardjameschess.bsky.social · 9d
It makes sense, I guess, to ask a watchDOG to comment on vets' prices.

(Many years ago our neighbours had a dog called Rolex. He was a watchdog.)
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dmuspecialcolls.bsky.social
DMU Archives and Rare Books @dmuspecialcolls.bsky.social · 10d
#ChessTuesday 🏆 Trophies from the 1997 European Chess Championship where the England men’s & women’s teams claimed 1st & 3rd place! Standing an impressive 2ft tall, they’re not easy to lift or to win! 💪 From the @englishchess.bsky.social. #chesshistory #chessliterature @richardjameschess.bsky.social
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richtwickchess.bsky.social
Richmond & Twickenham Chess Club @richtwickchess.bsky.social · 11d
rtchessclub.com/2025/10/13/c...

Can you analyse this week's puzzle position accurately?

As always, have fun!
Chess Puzzle of the Week (361)
I sometimes take you back to the distant past, but this week’s puzzle is taken from a game played only yesterday. This is Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis (Greece) – Gawain Maroroa Jones (En…
rtchessclub.com
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richtwickchess.bsky.social
Richmond & Twickenham Chess Club @richtwickchess.bsky.social · 12d
What a lovely time we had yesterday at the Adelaide, sharing memories of IM Gavin Wall with his many chess friends and family.
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richardjameschess.bsky.social
Richard James @richardjameschess.bsky.social · 13d
IM Gavin Wall was one of the first members of Richmond Junior Club, which met for the first time 50 years ago almost to the day. It's poignant that today his family and friends will be remembering his life and raising a glass to his memory. The Adelaide, Teddington 12:00-15:00.
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