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“Your rook is attacked and shortly after I’ll take another pawn. This is a position to die for, in fact…”

‘You’re not doing very well, I’m afraid.” It’s Wednesday morning and Eamon Keogh and I are playing chess on the banks of the Grand Canal. It’s a glorious sunny day and a gaggle of swans have glided over to see what’s going on. But the two-time Irish champion is unimpressed. He tuts quietly and leans across the table to offer some constructive criticism. Read the rest of this article here.

NOW THERE’S SOMETHING YOU DON’T SEE EVERY DAY…

If there’s a WTF Hall of Fame, this is in it… From yesterday’s Daily Express, quite possibly the greatest news story intro of all time: Read the rest of this entry »

“YOUR ROOK IS ATTACKED AND SHORTLY AFTER I’LL TAKE ANOTHER PAWN. THIS IS A POSITION TO DIE FOR, IN FACT…”

‘You’re not doing very well, I’m afraid.” It’s Wednesday morning and Eamon Keogh and I are playing chess on the banks of the Grand Canal. It’s a glorious sunny day and a gaggle of swans have glided over to see what’s going on. But the two-time Irish champion is unimpressed. He tuts quietly and leans across the table to offer some constructive criticism. Read the rest of this article here.

“YOUR ROOK IS ATTACKED AND SHORTLY AFTER I’LL TAKE ANOTHER PAWN. THIS IS A POSITION TO DIE FOR, IN FACT…”

‘You’re not doing very well, I’m afraid.” It’s Wednesday morning and Eamon Keogh and I are playing chess on the banks of the Grand Canal. It’s a glorious sunny day and a gaggle of swans have glided over to see what’s going on. But the two-time Irish champion is unimpressed. He tuts quietly and leans across the table to offer some constructive criticism. Read the rest of this article here.

Published: Irish Times, May 10 2008

THE BUTLER HARA-KIRI GAMBIT

‘You’re not doing very well, I’m afraid.” It’s Wednesday morning and Eamon Keogh and I are playing chess on the banks of the Grand Canal. It’s a glorious sunny day and a gaggle of swans have glided over to see what’s going on. But the two-time Irish champion is unimpressed. He tuts quietly and leans across the table to offer some constructive criticism.

“Both of those were terrible moves, to be honest with you,” he says. “I mean, your first move was bad. But the second is practically an international disaster.” He shakes his head. There are many renowned opening strategies in chess. This one I’m calling the ‘Butler Hara-Kiri Gambit’. Read the rest of this entry »