9AFFLUENCE | Saturday, May 30 2020

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3X3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9 with no repeats.

S U D O K U

W O R D P L A Y

SHOE Gary Brookins and Susie MacNelly

CLANCY Mark Lynch

We have found 40 words that can be made from the letters in the square, each of which uses the letter in the middle and contains at least four letters. We challenge you to beat this, and also to make at least one nine-letter word. No abbreviations, initials or foreign words unless they form words in everyday use. No plurals.

Today’s Target: Good 26; very good 32; excellent 40.

If today is your birthday: Take this time to evaluate what you want, where you want to be. It’s a risky world but you are ready for change. So take those opportunities that come your way. You just need to recognise them when they arrive.

Aries (21 March-20 April)You never shy away from a fight, so don’t stop now. Give it your all, there’s nothing to lose. To keep going, see you have all the ammunition you need. Sometimes it’s a fight, you can’t avoid. Don’t let up.

Taurus (21 April-21 May)Time to be engaged, from work issues, to love life, to self-development. This week see you give it your all. Because a lot will be asked of you. Keep the momentum, don’t hold up, you can do it without losing a beat.

Gemini (22 May-21 June)Some days it all seems too much, but you’ve got what it takes to rise above. Take the time this week to gather your strength, and meet and exceed your challenges. Life may seem difficult, but you’ve got what it takes. No doubt.

Cancer (22 June-23 July)Look into your heart this week, if there’s something wrong, you can fix it. Keep to those impossible goals, and why not. It’s all about taking the steps to get what you want, and feel. And you always felt you could.

Leo (24 July-23 August)The times require it, you need to change and adapt. This week you are busy, very busy doing what you must to keep your head above water. But the good news is you are getting there. You worked for it.

Virgo (24 August-23 September) You can no longer avoid it, you have to step up to the plate.

But you can find yourself, and show your true colours in these troubled times. Do all you can, you are on to a good thing. Now. Today.

Libra (24 September-23 October) This week you are nowhere near done. You gave it you all, said you’d do it. And so you will. All this while navigating the choppy waters. But you never say “I can’t. Always “what can I do? To get there?

Scorpio (24 October-22 November) What you need is that unwavering confidence, to get you through all that’s happening around you. So keep to it, don’t let it bring you down. The only way is up, but you were always going that way, anyway.

Sagittarius (23 November-21 December) There’s no question about it, now more than ever one needs love. See that on this journey, you are with that special someone. You just need to express what you want from love, and you will surely get it.

Capricorn (22 December-20 January) You have all the necessary abilities to see yourself getting there. No doubt there are obstacles, in life, your career, your love. So take all your best and you can move forward and not backwards, while things are upside down.

Aquarius (21 January-19 February)Waiting for the perfect one? You can find what you were searching for, even when they say you can’t. So take that risk, take that leap of faith. It could be bad, but you know you can turn things around.

Pisces (20 February-20 March)Yes, you can have that connection. Now may not seem the right time. But you have to risk a bit to get a bit. So unchain your heart, give it away. And you will find what you were looking for.

YOUR STARSBarbara Kiselev

D O U B L E C R O S S W O R D

QUICK CLUESACROSS1 Meteor (8,4)7 Colloquial language (5)8 Reward (5)9 Regret (3)10 Space vehicle (9)11 Indigenous (6)12 Hurled (6)15 Meddle (9)17 Consume (3)18 Fetter (5)19 Not heavy (5)21 Endless (12)

DOWN1 Californian port (3,9)2 Beverage (3)3 Periods of darkness (6)4 Tomb (9)5 Plea of being elsewhere (5)6 In various places (4,3,5)7 Dulcet (5)10 Separation (9)13 Unconcealed (5)14 Madhouse (6)16 Coach (5) Fire-arm (3)

CRYPTIC CLUESACROSS1 They help people grow better (5,7)7 Possibly upset an arrangement (3-2)8 An award for tidiness (5)9 It must be a bit thick to bear (3)10 Didn’t cost the earth! (4-5)11 He counts and recounts (6)12 Gives patient attention (6)15 Not prepared, so to speak (9)17 Allowed in court (3)18 Country which might provide aid in some way (5)19 Break in staff (5)21 Pieces of expertise guarded by private industry? (5,7)

DOWN1 Become very indignant and take flight (2,2, 2, 3,3)2 A negative point to bring up (3)3 Little devil with the skill to communicate (6)4 A charity worth fighting for (4,5)5 Crest of a partridge with part missing (5)6 Schemes put forward for places (12)7 Go through the letters for something charming (5)10 Does it lend drama perhaps to one’s sleep? (9)13 Only about five find the answer (5)14 Ocean liners? (6)16 A royal house (5)20 Part of linear curvature (3)

FASTRACK Bill Holbrook

L A S T W E E K ’ S S O L U T I O N

Today’s solutions: ague argive argue auger augite gait gaiter gape gaper gate gaur gave gear girt give giver grape grate grave great grip gripe grit guitar page parget prig PURGATIVE purge rage ragi rivage targe tiger triage trig trug urge vague virgate

TODAY’S SOLUTIONSCRYPTIC: Across: 1 Green fingers. 7 Set-up. 8 Order. 9 Ice. 10 Dirtcheap. 11 Teller. 12 Nurses. 15 Extempore. 17 Let. 18 India. 19 Stave. 21 Trade secrets.Down: 1 Go up in the air. 2 Not. 3 Impart. 4 Good cause. 5 Ridge. 6 Propositions. 7 Spell. 10 Dreamland. 13 Solve. 14 Coasts. 16 Tudor. 20 Arc.QUICK: Across: 1 Shooting star. 7 Slang. 8 Prize. 9 Rue. 10 Satellite. 11 Native. 12 Thrown. 15 Interfere. 17 Eat. 18 Chain. 19 Light. 21 Interminable.Down: 1 San Francisco. 2 Tea. 3 Nights. 4 Sepulchre. 5 Alibi. 6 Here and there. 7 Sweet. 10 Severance. 13 Overt. 14 Bedlam. 16 Train. 20 Gun.

G E N E R A L K N O W L E D G E

1 0 M I N U T E C R O S S W O R D

C R Y P T I C 3 2 0

N E I L H A Y W A R D B R I D G E

QUICK CLUESACROSS: 9 Successful (8) 10 Meadow (3) 11 Riddle (6) 12 Oppressively heavy (6) 13 In the distant past (4,3) 14 Despise (4) 15 Unit of length (10) 17 Cutlery item (8) 18 Singing voice (7) 19 Threesome (4) 21 Contrive (6) 24 Rabid (7,2,3,5) 27 On dry land (6) 29 Worshipped image (4) 30 Brusque (7) 33 Capital of Hawaii (8) 35 Unimportant (10) 36 Catch sight of (4) 37 Salad vegetable (7) 38 Fraternise (6)

40 Type of poem (6) 41 Fish eggs (3) 42 Guiltless (8)DOWN: 1 Fed up, commonly (7,3) 2 Untamed (4) 3 Spice (8) 4 Nimbleness (7) 5 Disaster (11) 6 Brief communication (10) 7 Accident (6) 8 Feelings (8) 10 Jousting weapon (5) 16 Twister (7) 20 Proportion (5) 22 Coupon (7) 23 Farming (11) 25 Disparity (10) 26 Loiter (4,6) 28 Arachnid (8) 31 Attractive (8) 32 Endanger (7) 34 Excursion (6) 35 Habituate (5) 39 Male rabbit (4)

CRYPTIC CLUESACROSS: 9 A trainer doesn’t need it to keep in good shape! (4,4)10 “Drink? Not I,” you say (3)11 Surplus to requirements and that’s new! (6)12 Conditions at home sure will change (6)13 “A friend has a right,” I put in, “to be biased” (7)14 Pull in and seem to be under the influence (4)15 Not too badly, when up to it physically (4,6)17 Awfully good, won’t be beaten by (2,4,2)18 Why answer! (7)19 Pink for a girl (4)21 The weak half of bitter, means to imbibe (6)24 So far as I’m concerned, I’m having no dubbing (8,3,6)27 I go through the sales breakdown with her (6)29 Spoil the walk (4)30 Have your say firmly in a high voice? (5,2)33 Gather what you have to do with the DIY kit? (8)35 Understands, perhaps, vaguely the object is to get inside (10)36 A degree in dancing (4)37 A cart turning to the right and it’s very slow-moving (7)

38 A Hardy book, maybe? (6)40 Convey verbally to the lady (6)41 That’s 1,970 years ago, boy (3)42 Reverse what had been decided about the directive? (8)DOWN: 1 Unable to use the slot machine it’s always the same (10)2 Drop when you shoot (4)3 Right now’ when one puts it on show (8)4 Is just as fast as and plugs away at (5,2)5 Having fun getting someone tipsy (6,5)6 Removed from forcibly and left (6,4)7 A wrinkle at the hair-line (6)8 Watch and he’l do it again (8)10 With a light “onsense!”lifted the child (5)16 As heads of state, they don’ succeed (7)20 Wrong again, stands up to volunteer (5)22 Underscore “n years”(7)23 An out-and-out I can’ say it! (11)25 Became more friendly with, or was too sensible to (4,6)26 Having detected one’ weak point, nagged about it (5,5)28 It’ a strange man outside with a dog (8)31 Willing to go on the paper chase, left (8)32 Contend the noise is made by a bird (7)34 Once having got cheeky with the master (6)35 Behaved oneself when one stood in for (5)39 He’s mean (4)

ACROSS3 To contend with an opposing force, is to do what (8)7 Name the husband of Queen Victoria, Prince ... (6)8 To have been in great plenty is to have done what (8)9 What is a macaw otherwise known as (6)10 Name a person of defective mentality (8)11 Which fish swim upstream (6)14 Name some striped horselike animals (6)17 What is a liquid preparation of the colour and consistency of milk (8)18 Name some small units of length (6)19 Who upholds a leader (8)20 What is a need for food (6)21 To finish things that are owed, is to do what (3,5)

DOWN1 What is lucerne known as (7)2 Which area is used to sleep in (7)3 What is a stopping place of a railway (7)4 Name a small guitarlike musical instrument (7)5 To be more affected with vertigo, is to be what (7)6 To be infinite, is to be what (7)11 What is that which leaks out (7)12 To have expressed mirth, is to have done what (7)13 To notice, is to do what (7)14 What are highest points (7)15 Name a raised platform projecting from the wall of a building (7)16 When one asserts without proof, one does what (7)

ACROSS1 Eagerly sought by some as many spoke wildly (6)8 Coming at the end of multi tea arrangements (8)9 Flat pieces of timber forming parts of US political platforms (6)10 Go over art reform for metric writings (8)11 Little Master is true about having reached adulthood (6)12 Stern behaviour in presentation of credo urgently needed (4)13 Set up an iron in charity events (5)16 The threads of some stories (5)19 A slender shoot put last on artificial hairpiece (4)21 Start again on summary of work experience (6)22 All geese could be relocated in the obscure language of some laws (8)23 Girl has a first lesson to strengthen glass by heat (6)24 See us turn silent inside vessels in the kitchen (8)25 Listen for another way to join the service (6)

DOWN2 Concerned with property rental agreement being free (7)3 Brave the dangers in some business enterprise (7)4 Sprinkled with powder and removed other substances maybe (6)5 Some utensil very much like a white ductile metal (7)6 One transporting a type of trained bird (7)7 Where the feet are placed in traditional tales (7)13 Leave military formation in a cloud of radioactive dust (7)14 Precipitate action of the original outfitter (7)15 Pen on the table for an interior decorator (7)17 A run around lanes to see a store of weapons (7)18 Sat around without feeling first little marsupials (7)20 Agrees to be used to make something run easily (6)

ACROSS1 Disposed of finally (8,3)9 Obsolete (7)10 Healing ointment (5)11 Uncarpeted (4)12 Bright (8)14 Put up with (6)16 A skin complaint (6)18 On a higher floor (8)19 Self-satisfied (4)22 Stupid (5)23 Extreme confusion (7)24 Breed of gundog (5,6)

DOWN2 External (5)3 Object of worship (4)4 Respect highly (6)5 Unmistakable (8)6 Excessively flattering (7)7 Gibberish (6,5)8 An arm of Arabian Sea (7,4)13 Southern US state (8)15 Utter loss of hope (7)17 Without charge (6)20 Kind of large deer (5)21 Unyielding courage (4)

Contract: 6♥ by South

Opening Lead: ♣7. How do you plan to play the hand?

Recommended Line: The finesse at trick one looks tempting, but you should bear in mind: most players are reluctant to lead away from a king at the best of times; all the more so when choosing a lead against a slam. In any event, you don’t really need the club finesse. You have a safer line. Play the ♣A, cash the ♠A, then lead the ♠T. If East plays low, discard a club. If West wins, and continues with another club, you will try the ♣Q, but will probably have to ruff East’s ♣K. You then lead a heart across. Play another spade. If East covers, ruff high; otherwise discard a diamond. Since West would probably have led a spade if holding both the king and the queen in the suit, you expect to taste success playing the hand as described. Your double ruffing finesse traps East’s ♠K. People who believe in taking the direct route would not find this scenic play!

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TODAY’S SOLUTIONSCRYPTIC: Across: 9 Shoe tree. 10 Tea (T). 11 Unused. 12 In-ures. 13 P-a-Rt-I-al. 14 Reel. 15 Well enough. 17 Go down to. 18 Because. 19 Rose. 21 Wa(bit)ter-y. 24 Speaking for myself. 27 Lass-I-e. 29 Turn. 30 Speak up. 33 Assemble. 35 Appreh-end-s. 36 Step. 37 Trac-to-R. 38 Annual. 40 Carrie (carry). 41 L-AD. 42 Over-rule.Down: 1 Change-less. 2 Tear. 3 Present’s. 4 Keeps up. 5 Making merry. 6 Pulled away. 7 Fur-row. 8 Repeater. 10 Tor-ch. 16 Leaders. 20 Off-er. 22 Teenage. 23 Unutterable. 25 Knew better. 26 Found fault. 28 Al-sati-an. 31 Prepa-red. 32 Spar-row. 34 Ex-pert. 35 Acted.

39 Norm.EASY: Across: 9 Thriving. 10 Lea. 11 Enigma. 12 Leaden. 13 Long ago. 14 Hate. 15 Centimetre. 17 Teaspoon. 18 Soprano. 19 Trio. 21 Devise. 24 Foaming at the mouth. 27 Ashore. 29 Idol. 30 Offhand. 33 Honolulu. 35 Immaterial. 36 Spot. 37 Lettuce. 38 Hobnob. 40 Sonnet. 41 Roe. 42 Innocent.Down: 1 Cheesed off. 2 Wild. 3 Cinnamon. 4 Agility. 5 Catastrophe. 6 Memorandum. 7 Mishap. 8 Emotions. 10 Lance. 16 Tornado. 20 Ratio. 22 Voucher. 23 Agriculture. 25 Inequality. 26 Hang around. 28 Scorpion. 31 Fetching. 32 Imperil. 34 Outing. 35 Inure. 39 Buck.

TODAY’S SOLUTIONSAcross: 3 Struggle. 7 Albert. 8 Abounded. 9 Parrot. 10 Imbecile. 11 Salmon. 14 Zebras. 17 Emulsion. 18 Inches. 19 Adherent. 20 Hunger. 21 End debts. Down: 1 Alfalfa. 2 Bedroom. 3 Station. 4 Ukulele. 5 Giddier. 6 Endless. 11 Seepage. 12 Laughed. 13 Observe. 14 Zeniths. 15 Balcony. 16 Alleges.

TODAY’S SOLUTIONS:Across: 1 Polished off. 9 Outworn. 10 Salve. 11 Bare. 12 Luminous. 14 Endure. 16 Eczema. 18 Upstairs. 19 Smug. 22 Crass. 23 Turmoil. 24 Irish setter. Down: 2 Outer. 3 Idol. 4 Honour. 5 Distinct. 6 Fulsome. 7 Double Dutch. 8 Persian Gulf. 13 Arkansas. 15 Despair. 17 Gratis. 20 Moose. 21 Grit.

TODAY’S SOLUTIONS: Across: 1 Craved. 8 Ultimate. 9 Planks. 10 Traverse. 11 Mature. 12 Dour. 13 Fetes. 16 Yarns. 19 Twig. 21 Resume. 22 Legalese. 23 Anneal. 24 Utensils. 25 Enlist. Down: 2 Release. 3 Venture. 4 Dusted. 5 Silvery. 6 Carrier. 7 Legends. 13 Fallout. 14 Trigger. 15 Stylist. 17 Arsenal. 18 Numbats.20 Grease.

J U M B O C R O S S W O R D

TREKNET Gavin Thomson and Dave Gomersall

HAGAR Dik Browne

NORTH ♠ A T 9 8 ♥ A Q T ♦ 7 5 2 ♣ A Q 3WEST EAST ♠ K 7 4 3 ♠ Q 6 5 2♥ 3 ♥ 9 6♦ J 9 8 6 ♦ Q T 3♣ 7 6 5 4 ♣ K J T 8 SOUTH ♠ J ♥ K J 8 7 5 4 2 ♦ A K 4 ♣ 9 2

ONLINE CHESS continues. The Steinitz Memorial blitz occasioned a self-reflective moment for Carlsen: ‘I’m happier than I would have been if I hadn’t won the tournament, but that was terrible from start to finish. Even the times I played a good game I feel I messed it up with bad technique.’In the next event, the Lindores Abbey online match he won a brilliant miniature against Levon Aronian where he exploited the Armenian’s move 14 mistake and at the end was poised for a queen sacrifice for mate. You can find the game on Chess24 Lindores Abbey Rapid Challenge, Round 2.However, on Wednesday Carlsen was beaten first by China’s Yu Yangyi and then by Poland’s Jan-Krzysztof Duda in games which the No 1 called ‘frustrating, completely unacceptable’.This match can be followed on Chess 24. * * *WITH MY 7-YEAR OLD grandson now playing chess, my thoughts turned to the traps beginners could fall into. The most famous is the Two-Move Checkmate, also called Fool’s Mate. The moves are: 1. f3 e5 2. g4 Qh4#It is very rare and can only occur if White commits an extraordinary blunder. According to Wikipedia the Fools Mate is called Shepherd’s Mate in Catalan, Dutch, Esperanto, French, German, Czech, Latvian, Portuguese, Spanish and Turkish. In Persian, Greek and Arabic it is called Napoleon’s Plan or Opening (It is named after the French general and emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who had a deep love of chess but was said to be a mediocre player. Apparently he played this opening in an 1809 game which he lost to The Turk, a chess automaton operated at the time by Johann Allgaier.)In Belorussian, Latvian, Russian and Ukrainian it is called Children’s Mate In Croatian, Danish, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Polish (where Fool’s Mate is known as Scholar’s Norwegian it is School Mate.* * *ALSO ON THE theme of beginners (and even some advanced players), Chess.com is offering an online dictionary of chess terms. For example: ‘Zugzwang is a German term that means ‘a compulsion to move.’ The idea behind this term is that in certain positions, it would be beneficial for a player to skip their turn because moving any piece would result in an advantage for their opponent.’* * *IF YOU ARE hankering after some elevated education you should listen to a 2017 talk by Stephen Fry on origins of chess and AI developments. Entertaining and illuminating, it is on Youtube. Search for this phrase: Shannon Luminary Lecture Series - Stephen Fry. (Start at 15mins if you want to miss the preliminaries.)* * *For comment or news write to thechessnik@gmail.com

White to move and mate in 3

Solution:1. Qb3 Ke5 2. Ba2 Ke6 3. Qxd5 mate!

PUZZLE BY BG Laws

N I C K B A R N E T T C H E S S