18 Friday May 27 2022 | 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 MEDIAKakuro No 3184
© 2010 KENKEN PUZZLE & TM NEXTOY. DIST. BY UFS, INC. WWW.KENKEN.COMFill 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.
KenKenDifficult No 5591 Futoshiki No 4225
Venice
This year’s World Team Champion-
ships were held in a Venice pleasant-
ly devoid of cruise ships. Once again,
the UK team, this year captained by
Chris Rogers, did not disappoint. In
the round robin stage, they won six
of their seven matches and there-
fore qualified for the playoffs.
In the semi-final they came up
against the tournament favourites,
Japan. In a tight match they lost 2-3.
In the bronze medal match they
played Sweden. With the match tied
at 2-2 it came down to the final
game, and international debutant
Reece Hodges managed to triumph
at double match point to give the
UK a thoroughly deserved bronze
medal to follow last year’s silver. In
the final the Italian hosts caused a
big upset by defeating Japan 4-1,
thus taking the gold medal.
This week’s position is taken from
a match in one of the early rounds,
with Gaz Owen (Black) facing
Honza Cerny from the Czech Re-
public. Should Gaz redouble to four
and should White take?
Time to use Woolsey’s Law. Are
you certain White has a take? If not,
you should redouble. One should
also not forget the pressure that
international tournaments bring.
Even if this is a take White will have
visions of his loose blots being
picked up, losing a gammon and
going 0-8 down in a match to nine.
After long thought Gaz did redou-
ble. Honza also took his time but
eventually he accepted the redou-
ble. The dice gods smiled on Gaz,
and he won a backgammon and the
match.
A long rollout using XG shows
that Gaz’s redouble was on the bor-
derline of redouble/no redouble,
and Honza’s take was perfectly cor-
rect. In this instance Gaz’s applica-
tion of Woolsey’s Law reaped a big
reward. I often remind my students
of the quote from Prussian general
Karl von Clausewitz: “Given the
same amount of intelligence, timidi-
ty will do a thousand times more
damage than audacity.” I encourage
them, and you, to apply that think-
ing to backgammon.
The full UK team was Chris Rog-
ers, Aref Alipour, Martin Barkwill,
Tim Cross, Reece Hodges, Raj Jan-
sari, Gaz Owen, Lawrence Powell,
Emab Salib and Oliver Squire. Con-
gratulations to all of them on a fine
performance.© PUZZLER MEDIASlide the letters either horizontally or vertically back into the grid to produce a
completed crossword. Letters are allowed to slide over other lettersEvery 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, rightCluelines Stuck on Codeword? To receive 4 random clues call 0901 293 6262 or
text TIMECODE to 64343. 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 6What 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 TracksNo 1641
Lexica No 6369 No 6370
LAHMLEXOWATCDBIOETNEHEDMIOODVSTDYRMRILUNEIECCodeword No 4599
Winning Move
BackgammonChris Bray
#((((((((#
#Ã#á#Ã#Ã'
?Ã#Ã#Ã2Ã/'
@#Ã#Ã2Ã3Ã'
IÃ#Ã2Ã#Ã#'
H ]#]#Ã#Ã'
=Ã#Ã#]1Ã#'
G#Ã#ÃÇ]#Ã'
FÃ#!#Ã#Ã#'
#DCB:;A<E#
Black to play.
This position is from Quintiliano
Pinto-Sanal, Titled Tuesday
chess.com 2022.Black is hopelessly behind on
material here as White has a
rook and two pawns versus a
knight. The only chance is to
launch a counterattack against
the white king. Black tried to do
this with 1 ... Qg4 but 2 Rh1+ won
easily. Instead Black could have
generated enough play to force a
draw. Can you see how?