Richard James
@richardjameschess.bsky.social
Chess player, organiser, teacher, writer, historian. Investigating the intersection between chess and childhood.
Reading old newspapers so that you don't have to.
Also crosswords, music (classical & folk), genealogy etc.
https://richard915.substack.com
Reading old newspapers so that you don't have to.
Also crosswords, music (classical & folk), genealogy etc.
https://richard915.substack.com
Pinned
Introduction
I’m Richard James. I'm writing about the intersection between chess and childhood.
richard915.substack.com
richard915.substack.com/p/introduction
I've just launched a Substack discussing the intersection between chess and childhood through the perspective of my long involvement with children's chess. #chess #chesspost #EduSky
I've just launched a Substack discussing the intersection between chess and childhood through the perspective of my long involvement with children's chess. #chess #chesspost #EduSky
Reposted by Richard James
Jonathan Hawkins is unable to do his normal work, as a chess Grandmaster, due to his treatment for an aggressive form of cancer. There is a GoFundMe raised for him. Please donate if you can.
www.gofundme.com/f/british-ch...
www.gofundme.com/f/british-ch...
Donate to British Chess Champion Jonathan Hawkins Cancer Appeal, organized by Shan Nasim
Hi, my name is GM Danny Gormally and I am a friend of Jonathan Hawkin… Shan Nasim needs your support for British Chess Champion Jonathan Hawkins Cancer Appeal
www.gofundme.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Jonathan Hawkins is unable to do his normal work, as a chess Grandmaster, due to his treatment for an aggressive form of cancer. There is a GoFundMe raised for him. Please donate if you can.
www.gofundme.com/f/british-ch...
www.gofundme.com/f/british-ch...
December 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
chesswithrichard.uk
At the age of 10 I received a chess set for Christmas, introducing me to a complex and challenging, exciting and beautiful game which gave me a lifelong hobby and lasting friendships.
Based in the heart of Twickenham, I offer a FREE consultancy service for parents and schools.
At the age of 10 I received a chess set for Christmas, introducing me to a complex and challenging, exciting and beautiful game which gave me a lifelong hobby and lasting friendships.
Based in the heart of Twickenham, I offer a FREE consultancy service for parents and schools.
Chess with Richard
Transforming children's lives through chess
chesswithrichard.uk
December 17, 2025 at 10:46 AM
chesswithrichard.uk
At the age of 10 I received a chess set for Christmas, introducing me to a complex and challenging, exciting and beautiful game which gave me a lifelong hobby and lasting friendships.
Based in the heart of Twickenham, I offer a FREE consultancy service for parents and schools.
At the age of 10 I received a chess set for Christmas, introducing me to a complex and challenging, exciting and beautiful game which gave me a lifelong hobby and lasting friendships.
Based in the heart of Twickenham, I offer a FREE consultancy service for parents and schools.
DNA link with 4th cousin Kenneth, originally from Worcester, Massachusetts, now in West Hartford, Connecticut
December 16, 2025 at 3:36 PM
DNA link with 4th cousin Kenneth, originally from Worcester, Massachusetts, now in West Hartford, Connecticut
Reposted by Richard James
Discover arbiter Stewart Reuben’s #chess-themed stamp collection this #ChessTuesday. A hobby often enjoyed around the festive season here we have a World Chess Champions set, Yugoslavia c 1995 & Hungarian stamps saved on an envelope, C 1980. #chesshistory #chessliterature @englishchess.bsky.social
December 16, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Discover arbiter Stewart Reuben’s #chess-themed stamp collection this #ChessTuesday. A hobby often enjoyed around the festive season here we have a World Chess Champions set, Yugoslavia c 1995 & Hungarian stamps saved on an envelope, C 1980. #chesshistory #chessliterature @englishchess.bsky.social
Reposted by Richard James
rtchessclub.com/2025/12/15/c...
As it's nearly Christmas this week's puzzle introduces you to Swiss GM and coach Noël Studer.
As it's nearly Christmas this week's puzzle introduces you to Swiss GM and coach Noël Studer.
Chess Puzzle of the Week (370)
The impending festive season had me thinking about the Swiss GM Noël Studer. Studer retired from competitive play in 2021 when still in his mid twenties to become a coach, author and content creato…
rtchessclub.com
December 15, 2025 at 12:03 PM
rtchessclub.com/2025/12/15/c...
As it's nearly Christmas this week's puzzle introduces you to Swiss GM and coach Noël Studer.
As it's nearly Christmas this week's puzzle introduces you to Swiss GM and coach Noël Studer.
minorpieces.uk/2025/12/10/m...
Augusta Talboys was a chess-playing artist whose paintings sometimes featured kittens on the chessboard. Discover more about her life, art and chess here.
Augusta Talboys was a chess-playing artist whose paintings sometimes featured kittens on the chessboard. Discover more about her life, art and chess here.
Minor Pieces 95: Agnes Augusta Talboys
Let’s return to the 1913 British Championships in Cheltenham. A couple of months after the event, the prizes for Brilliant Games were announced. Surrey Mirror 17 October 1913 Here’s the…
minorpieces.uk
December 12, 2025 at 5:22 PM
minorpieces.uk/2025/12/10/m...
Augusta Talboys was a chess-playing artist whose paintings sometimes featured kittens on the chessboard. Discover more about her life, art and chess here.
Augusta Talboys was a chess-playing artist whose paintings sometimes featured kittens on the chessboard. Discover more about her life, art and chess here.
Reposted by Richard James
rtchessclub.com/2025/12/12/c...
Did you find Black's spectacular move in Monday's position? If so, did you find White's best reply and assess the resulting position correctly?
Did you find Black's spectacular move in Monday's position? If so, did you find White's best reply and assess the resulting position correctly?
Chess Puzzle of the Week (369): Solution
Monday’s position came from an offhand game played between Edmund Macdonald and Amos Burn, one of England’s strongest players of his time, in Liverpool back in 1910. White has given up …
rtchessclub.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:34 AM
rtchessclub.com/2025/12/12/c...
Did you find Black's spectacular move in Monday's position? If so, did you find White's best reply and assess the resulting position correctly?
Did you find Black's spectacular move in Monday's position? If so, did you find White's best reply and assess the resulting position correctly?
Ancestry now has the London Electoral Rolls up to 1972 (here).
December 11, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Ancestry now has the London Electoral Rolls up to 1972 (here).
DNA link with 5th cousin once removed Kathleen, originally from Tekamah, Nebraska, later from Alameda, California.
December 10, 2025 at 1:12 PM
DNA link with 5th cousin once removed Kathleen, originally from Tekamah, Nebraska, later from Alameda, California.
Reposted by Richard James
Reposted by Richard James
We don’t do court reports, especially when it comes to violent crime, but there’s always an exception.
December 9, 2025 at 2:30 PM
We don’t do court reports, especially when it comes to violent crime, but there’s always an exception.
Reposted by Richard James
A perfect pocket-sized #Christmas stocking filler this #ChessTuesday: a Polgar Tactics book signed by the legendary #chess sisters, marking their remarkable 1991 performances in Budapest. From the @englishchess.bsky.social Library. @richardjameschess.bsky.social #chesshistory #chessliterature
December 9, 2025 at 9:00 AM
A perfect pocket-sized #Christmas stocking filler this #ChessTuesday: a Polgar Tactics book signed by the legendary #chess sisters, marking their remarkable 1991 performances in Budapest. From the @englishchess.bsky.social Library. @richardjameschess.bsky.social #chesshistory #chessliterature
Reposted by Richard James
rtchessclub.com/2025/12/08/c...
Another fascinating position for you to analyse this week.
As always, have fun!
Another fascinating position for you to analyse this week.
As always, have fun!
Chess Puzzle of the Week (369)
This week’s position languished in obscurity for almost a century before being rediscovered. Thanks to my virtual friend Neil Blackburn for reminding me about it. Black to play. He’s a …
rtchessclub.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:05 AM
rtchessclub.com/2025/12/08/c...
Another fascinating position for you to analyse this week.
As always, have fun!
Another fascinating position for you to analyse this week.
As always, have fun!
Reposted by Richard James
Father and son playing chess. Photo by Yevgeny Khaldei (1954)
December 7, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Father and son playing chess. Photo by Yevgeny Khaldei (1954)
Daily Mirror 29 December 1966
December 7, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Daily Mirror 29 December 1966