14 1GT Friday November 13 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 2784
© 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 5111 Futoshiki No 3825
Think for yourself
Backgammon is largely a game of
pattern recognition. You cannot
become a strong player until you
have built a mental library of ref-
erence positions to aid your deci-
sion-making process. In addition,
we learn useful maxims that can
be applied time and time again to
aid us in making the right moves.
One such maxim is Falafel’s
Law: “If you can make your 5-pt,
do so, and worry later about what
else you could have done.” The law
is right far more often than not. A
second maxim is this: “Prime an
anchor but attack a blot.”
The problem is that maxims will
only take you so far. You have to
learn when to ignore them and to
think for yourself. In this week’s
position White has escaped one
rear checker, has a healthy lead in
the race and is now trying to es-
cape her other rear checker. Our
second maxim would imply the
blot should be attacked but that is
not a practical plan for Black.
Therefore, he needs to adopt the
strategy of trying to prime that
rear checker.
He has two obvious plays, 11/5,
6/5, making his 5-pt and obeying
Falafel’s Law, or 13/7, 8/7, making
his bar-pt. Over the board, Black
quickly played 11/5, 6/5 and was
disappointed to lose the game on
the very next roll when White
rolled 65, playing 24/13, with an
unassailable racing lead.
This was an occasion to ignore
Falafel’s Law. Black should notice
how poorly White’s fives and sixes
play if Black has made his bar-pt.
He should further observe that
while his 5-pt remains open after
13/7, 8/7, he holds his 11-pt which is
six pips away from that open point.
That structure will make it very
difficult for White to organise the
escape of her last rear checker.
Furthermore, Black will be well-
placed to make the 5-pt next turn.
The key here is get the priorities
right. First make the bar-point,
blocking White’s sixes, and then
seek to improve the prime.
Following maxims will only take
you so far, since tactical consider-
ations will often overrule them.
Look how poorly White’s 65
would have played if Black had
made the correct move.© 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 1173
Lexica No 5569 No 5570
LMWOIAENHDYEESOMOTDRRLUSOURASOEMKJCTROEERNSDCodeword No 4119
Winning Move
Backgammon Chris Bray
áWDWDWDWi]
àDW!RDBDp]
ßbDWDpgWD]
ÞDWDWDWDW]
ÝW1WDPDWD]
ÜDWDWDW)W]
ÛWDWDWDW)]
ÚDWDWDWIW]
WÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈW
White to play.
This position is from Bazeev-
Bok, “Titled Tuesday”, chess.com
2020.This position is winning for
White thanks to his material
advantage. However, he must be
careful as his king is exposed
and, in fact, Black is threatening
1 ... Qe1+ 2 Kg2 Qf1 mate. White
could consolidate with 1 Qf4 but
instead of retreating he has a
way to power through to victory.
Can you see how?