"Kingpin" Edited by Jonathan Manley, Published three times per
year, English Figurine Notation, 64pp., Annual subscription (three
issues): 10 pounds (UK); 14 pounds (Europe); 20 pounds (Rest of World).

Were we to take a step back and made a survey of all the chess
magazines out there, certain very common patterns would be easily
discernible. The standard tournament report with games annotated
by the visiting GM, an opening article on the latest twist in the
Najdorf, photos of the winner accepting the victory trophy, etc. etc.
Yes, this may be an oversimplification, but you get the idea.

Occasionally, something comes along that breaks the mold,
something that is not only different, but also of high quality and
enjoyable. Enter Jonathan Manley's fine publication "Kingpin."
Published approximately every four months, "Kingpin" stakes out
rarely charted territory with its emphasis on satire, humor and its
unique approach to the royal game in general. Regular visitors to
The Chess Cafe will already have recognized the name, as several
articles from past issues have appeared in The Skittles Room. The
latest issue of this British magazine has just appeared, and we
thought it was time to take a closer look.

Previous issues have usually begun with a semi-serious bang-bang
question/answer exchange with a notable chess personality. This
issue's questionnaire features Mickey Adams. In the one-page
exchange, he responds to such questions as "Who is the most
irritating opponent you have ever faced?" ("Anand and Shirov")
and "What is your greatest extravagance?" ("My wine cellar").
There are indeed serious questions here also, but Manley does not
hesitate to stray from the straight and narrow.

In fact there are serious pieces, among them an interview of Boris
Spassky conducted by Lev Khariton and articles by Chess Cafe
columnists Edward Winter and Richard Forster. But "Kingpin" is
justifiably known for its wit and satire. Thus, this issue also finds
articles such as "Gary Lane's Agony Column - More no-nonsense
advice from the IM who knows"; "Memoirs of a Mediocre Chess
Player" by Anthony Mann; and "Mr or Mrs X - Jules Welling
ponders the issue of chess-playing transsexuals".

Each issue also contains a few book reviews. This issue is no
different, offering an eclectic mix of nine reviews, from Stuart
Conquest's rambling albeit favorable look at Cadogan's reprint of
"The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal" and Tony Miles' review of
Schiller's "Unorthodox Chess Openings" (it reads, in full, 'Utter
crap.') to Anthony Mann's review of "A Shrimp Learnt to Whistle"
by Sarah Hurst, which has relatively little to do with chess at all!
Of course, with a magazine published once every four months, one
might question the usefulness of such reviews, appearing so long
after the book's release, but they still are a very good read.

In addition to interesting photos and sketches, entertaining sidebars
abound. For example, we find the following after GM Glenn
Flear's article about this year's French chess league...

How to Cheat at Chess No. 1: Adjusting the next board's pieces
Many years ago, I was playing for Manchester in an inter-
university competition against Andrew Whiteley (Oxford). At the
next board, and sharing our table, were Bill Hartston (Cambridge)
and Mike Basman (Leeds). I sacrificed a pawn to reach a position
where my Ng4 and Qh4 forked Andrew's pawns on h2 and f2.
Andrew played his move, and wandered off to look at another
game. I duly played Qxh2+, whereupon Bill H leaned across and
gently tipped Andrew's king across from g1 to h1. I went over to
Andrew to say it was his move; and we had to fight our way back
through the crowd that had instantly gathered. The rest of the room
was practically emptied of players. There was this buzz of
excitement - 'Amazing - an international player mated in 15 - how
did he miss it?' Of course, Andrew sat down and, with none of the
four of us showing the least sign of surprise, played K(h1)-f1.
Uproar. 'You don't want to let him get away with it!' I played my
move, and the crowd slowly dispersed, shaking their collective
heads. We drew, eventually. Andy Walker

British humor is often characterized by dry, pointed satire.
"Kingpin" has taken this art form and applied it to the Royal Game
with the result of producing an entertaining, irreverent chess
magazine that takes you over to the lighter side with verve and
panache. It is indeed jolly good fun.

Chess Cafe readers should be delighted to know that Manley has
agreed to send a free back issue of "Kingpin" to anyone who
requests it. Simply email him at Jon_Manley@msn.com and it will
be sent to you post free...