Chessword

Chessword

Across                    [1] Altogether a display (12) [7] d4 d5 games are this (6)     [9] Immobilize! (3) [10] The dream of the pawn (9) [12] Oblique pathway (8)   [13] Nimzowitsch recommended this preventive defence (11)  [16] Not the desired result (4) [17] King kebab! (6) [19, 33, 24] Game's aim (9,3,4) [20] Master of the light (6)  [22] Both armies (3) [25] French for International Chess Federation (1,1,1,1)  [27] Need these for titles (5) [29] e4 e5 games are this (4) [30] Result is a list of moves (5)  [32] Chess robbery (7) [34] Lords-a-leaping (7) [38] Giving up (9)  [40] Stances to study? (9) [41] City steeped in chess history where David Bronstein died (5)  [43] Tally to postal play (14) [44] Maroczy-style restriction [4]

 Down            [1] Opening I'll drink to (6) [2] The 8^th World Champ (3)             [3] Piece that is immune to pawns (8)  [4] chess measurement of time (5)             [5] Backstabbing! (2,7) [6] The ridiculous mate (5) [8] A map of the battlefield (7) [9] Tricky positions (8) [11] Liquidation or an unfair trade? (8)   [14] “_____ are the soul of chess” - Philidor (5) [15] Donation with a good return (9)  [18] Villain loses crown to make a crow (4) [20] Theoretical triumphs (4-4)  [21] Just a bit, man (5) [23] The original bishops (9) [26] Half the terrain is this (4)  [28] 25 or less moves (9) [30] Little GM who challenged Big K for the title (5)  [31] Death-throes! (7) [35] Famous Marshall-Burn commentary - “The ____ Game” (4)  [36] Master of the dark (6) [37] Slang Jumper (5)   [39] Good move I hear (5)  [42] Child system (1,1,1).

The original of this I made 17 years ago but was made for the Scottish Correspondence Chess Association.  I have only last week gotten a copy of the old dear back from the very kind editor of that magazine, Alan Borwell.  I have now taken out all the references that were tied in to Scottish postal chess and generally improved what I made before.  There is a little joke tied in with 2 of the clues.  Well you might not think its funny, but I do...enjoy.

Would more people be interested if I had labelled it "Crossword"?  Is anyone even trying it?  I know the format sucks but it looks way better in Microsoft Office; when you paste it to here it distorts it.  Comments as always are welcome.

Can't find [3] and [23]

3 down is on left hand side, 23 down is on right hand side - or am I being too literal as usual, did you mean cant find the answers?

Yes. Too literal. I used the Internet for Minsk, the rest I found myself (I think at least, didn't quite get the crown/crow description and some others, but I do think I found the right words). In any case 3&23 still  have me scratching my head

 Losing the crown is one term to suggest remove the first letter from a word that means villain to make one thats a crow.  Number 3 may be an old term (from when I learned chess) for something that normally has a seven letter word definition nowadays, or maybe its a UK/US difference.  Number 23 I just checked and found in seconds on web.

OK number 3 - just checked google for the word and it doesnt come up much - its mentioned in a review of a chessbook and in a list of tips for beginners.

Yes I thought of outpost or passed pawn, such things, but there's ..r.p.s.

And the other one is e.e.h.n.s, word doesn't seem to be related to chess...

Try wikipedia for 23 down.  For 3 down try:

http://hubpages.com/hub/5-Beginners-Mistakes-in-Chess

Well done, Mouse, get the rest?

OK. Not finding these is almost as embarrassing as taking so long to come up with the term for "backstabbing!" ;-)

I thought about using sideswipe instead of backstabbing, maybe should have.  Je ne regret rien!

 That's very gracious of you.

I must admit I am a little surprised people let me away with 20 across/36 down.  That was the little joke.  My pal who I was sounding out with some ideas was sure I would get abuse for that one.  Obviously no crossword purists.  :)

Having said that it felt natural to have a pair.

Chessword Answers