14 1GT Friday August 7 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 MEDIAKakuro No 2714
© 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 5027 Futoshiki No 3755
Exercising judgment
This week’s position is taken from a
match between the US master, Neil
Kazaross, and his online audience.
The game proceeds at the leisurely
rate of one move per day, as the au-
dience have to vote on their deci-
sions.
The team, playing Black, have
got off to a great start. They lead in
the race by 57 pips, they hold Neil’s
5-pt and they are threatening to
make their own 5-pt. Meanwhile
Neil has four checkers in Black’s
home board and an undeveloped
position. The team correctly dou-
bled, and I think that the majority
of players would have dropped the
double and got on with the next
game.
Black is behind in the three key
elements that are commonly used
to evaluate doubling decisions:
Position, Race and Threat (collec-
tively known as PRaT). Normally
being behind in all three elements
indicates that the player being dou-
bled should drop. Despite this Neil
accepted the team’s double and later
analysis showed that the take was
absolutely correct. What had Neil
seen that many players would not?
PRaT is an excellent guide, but it
is only that. An experienced player
will take the basic information
from PRaT and then adjust it based
on his or her backgammon know-
ledge. Neil’s knowledge and experi-
ence are both extensive. His think-
ing here ran along the following
lines:
“The game is still young and
Black has only a two-point home
board; I have an anchor in Black’s
board so I cannot be blitzed; all of
my checkers are in play; my four
checkers in Black’s home board
give me the chance to make two
points in that home board and play
a well-timed back game; alterna-
tively in some variations I might be
able to make Black’s bar-point; a
few well-timed hits could get me
back into the race.
“The key to accepting this double
is that the game could develop in
many different ways and for the
moment I have several viable game
plans. At the very least I will have a
well-timed ace-point game to fall
back on.”
In fact, Neil developed a well-
timed back game, hit a shot and
was able to win the game with a re-
double.© 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 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 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 Tracks No 1090
Lexica No 5429 No 5430
RBECHGLEECNTGLUNAKEELOIDGRNOSETGHEPYLOEYUYGECodeword No 4035
Winning Move
Backgammon Chris Bray
áWDWDrDWD]
àDpirgRDR]
ßWDpDqDpD]
ÞDWDW0W)W]
ÝpDPDPDWD]
ÜDW!nHNDW]
ÛP)WDW)WD]
ÚDWDWDKDW]
WÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈW
White to play.
This position is from Shimanov-
Svidler, “Titled Tuesday”,
chess.com 2020.Today’s puzzle is a classic missed
opportunity. Hoping to capitalise
on the strength of the rooks on
the seventh rank, White opted
for 1 Nf5 but after 1 ... gxf5 2 exf
Qd6 3 f6 e4 the position became
complicated and the game was
eventually drawn. A different
thrust would have done the job.
Can you see it?