Times 2 - UK (2020-11-18)

14 1GT Wednesday November 18 2020 | the times

MindGames

Fill the grid

using the

numbers 1 to 9

only. The

numbers in each

horizontal or

vertical run of

white squares

add up to the

total in the

triangle to its left

or above it. The

same number

may occur more

than once in a

row or column,

but not within

the same run of

white squares.

© PUZZLER MEDIA

Kakuro No 2787

© 2010 KENKEN PUZZLE & TM NEXTOY. DIST. BY UFS, INC. WWW.KENKEN

.COM

Fill the blank squares so that every row and column contains

each of the numbers 1 to 5 once only. The symbols between

the squares indicate whether a number is larger (>) or smaller

(<) than the number next to it.

All the digits 1 to 6 must appear in every row and column. In
each thick-line “block”, the target number in the top left-hand
corner is calculated from the digits in all the cells in the block,
using the operation indicated by the symbol.

KenKenMedium No 5115 Futoshiki No 3828

      



 








 



 







 









 





 








   


 









 


 

Squeezing

Last week’s article discussed the

topic of play in multi-way (as opp-

osed to heads-up) pots. The fun-

damental point about such pots is

that a stronger hand is generally

required to win when facing num-

erous opponents rather than just

one. However, it is also important

to be alert to other aspects of play

in multi-way pots as these create

their own opportunities. One of

these is known as “squeezing”.

Squeezing occurs when a player

raises, one or more players call,

and then another player subse-

quently raises again. In the right

circumstances, this play can be

extremely effective. It is known as

a squeeze because the players who

called the original raise (most

likely with speculative hands that

want to see the flop cheaply) are

“squeezed” and forced to either

fold (giving up their original bet),

or call and pay a lot more to see

the flop than they ideally want to.

If the player squeezing has a

premium hand then the play is

simply very good as they are

building a large pot in circum-

stances where they have excellent

equity. However, good players are

always on the lookout for oppor-

tunities to squeeze with moderate

holdings where the raise is not

justified in terms of pure equity.

The play looks really powerful, as

numerous players are in the pot

and, by raising them all, the

squeezer is announcing that they

have a powerhouse. In the face of

this it is fairly common to see

everyone else fold at once. When

this happens the squeezer picks

up a sizeable pot without even

having to see a flop. With a mod-

erate hand, that is a huge result.

The squeeze is effective because

the players who have called have

a capped range. This means that

they don’t (or at least shouldn’t)

have premium hands in their

range, otherwise they would have

raised themselves. However, the

initial raiser does not have a

capped range. The main drawback

of squeezing with a moderate

hand is that if the original raiser

has a monster they will now raise

again and the squeezer will be

forced to fold, wasting a lot of

chips. A further drawback is that

the original callers might get

“sticky” (ie reluctant to fold) and

come along for the ride, hoping for

a lucky flop. With just one oppo-

nent, the squeezer can often pick

up the pot with a modest flop bet.

The last thing the squeezer wants

is multiple opponents seeing a flop

as it is then likely that someone

will have made a decent hand.

The squeeze relies upon excel-

lent judgment of the other play-

ers. Ideally you need an original

raiser who is loose and will fold

often in the face of the squeeze,

along with callers who are aware

of pot odds and realise that they

are being asked to bet too much

with speculative hands. When these

factors align strongly you can

execute a profitable squeeze with-

out even looking at your cards.

© PUZZLER MEDIA

Slide the letters either horizontally or vertically back into the grid to produce a

completed crossword. Letters are allowed to slide over other letters

Every letter in this crossword-style grid has been substituted for a number from 1

to 26. Each letter of the alphabet appears in the grid at least once. Use the letters

already provided to work out the identity of further letters. Enter letters in the main

grid and the smaller reference grid until all 26 letters of the alphabet have been

accounted for. Proper nouns are excluded. Yesterday’s solution, right

Cluelines Stuck on Codeword? To receive 4 random clues call 0901 293 6262 or

text TIMECODE to 84901. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company’s network

access charge. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network charge. For the full solution

call 0905 757 0142. Calls cost £1 per minute plus your telephone company’s network

access charge. SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5.30pm).

Winners will receive a Collins English Dictionary & Thesaurus

Solve the puzzle and text in the numbers in the three

shaded boxes. Text TIMES followed by a space, then

your three numbers, eg, TIMES 123, plus your name,

address and postcode to 84901 (UK only), by midnight.

Or enter by phone. Call 09012 925274 (ROI 1516 303 501)

by midnight. Leave your three answer numbers (in any

order) and your contact details.

Calls cost £1 (ROI €1.50) plus your telephone company’s

network access charge. Texts cost £1 plus your standard

network charge. Winners will be picked at random from

all correct answers received. One draw per week. Lines

close at midnight tonight. If you call or text after this

time you will not be entered but will still be charged.

SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5.30pm).

Fill the grid so

that every

column, every

row and every

3x2 box contains

the digits 1 to 6

What are your favourite puzzles in MindGames?

Email: [email protected]

Lay tracks to enable the train to travel from village A to village

B. The numbers indicate how many sections of rail go in each

row and column. There are only straight rails and curved rails.

The track cannot cross itself.

Win a Dictionary & Thesaurus

Train Tracks No 1177

Lexica No 5575 No 5576

BA

T

H

M

E

U

U

S

E

S

EM

LR

GS

EM

U

DA

BJ

L

I

R

S

Y

E

AR

UJ

HA

S

SN

KO

T

Codeword No 4123

Winning Move

Poker Byron Jacobs

---

áWDrDW4kD]

à0WDRDWDW]

ßN0WDWDpD]

ÞhWDWDWDW]

ÝWDWDpDWD]

ÜDW)W)WgW]

Ûq)WDBDPD]

ÚDWIQDWDR]

WÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈW

White to play.

This position is from Foisor-

Zatonskih, US Women’s

Championship, lichess.org 2020.

Grandmaster Wesley So recently

triumphed in the US Chess

Championship with an

impressive 9/11. In the parallel

women’s event, Irina Krush was

similarly dominant with 8½/11.

This finish is taken from the

latter event. The white major

pieces have the black king in their

sights. Can you spot the finish?

For more puzzles, including an extra

Codeword, Train Tracks and Futoshiki

go to page 10