Bench & BarvSolicitors
Play · Solve · CompeteOne evening, two branches of the profession, and a shield that has changed hands for more than three decades. Play for your side, sharpen up on the daily puzzle, and bring a colleague.
The Opera Game
Hover over the board to pause, then try to guess the next move.
The Terrey Shaw Memorial Shield
Contested every year between the Bench & Bar and the Solicitors, and named for International Master Terrey Shaw, nine-time Olympian and member of the NSW Bar. Hover over the plaques to see which side took the shield in the years on record.
Artist's impression, not a photograph of the shield.
Recently joined
Who solves more: the Bench & Bar or the firms?
Every puzzle a member solves on this site scores a point for their side.
The 2026 match
Board pairings
Pairings and colours are set by the match captains and published here once the draw is final.
Join the platform
Register as a barrister or a solicitor. Registered members can be drawn for the match, earn a rating, submit puzzles and post in the community.
Members
Judges, barristers and solicitors who have joined the platform and chosen to list their profile. Select a card to read more.
Results archive
Every match we have a record of. Missing a year? Send it to the organisers and it will be added.
History of the match
How a friendly evening between the two branches of the profession became one of Sydney's longest-running legal fixtures.
Players we remember
The match is played in memory of those who gave it their time and their chess.
Gallery
Photographs from past matches. Hover to read the caption, click to enlarge.
The daily puzzle
A new position every day. Solve it to score for your side in the Puzzle Cup and to build your rating.
The position is checked automatically: it must be legal, and the side to move must have a forced mate in the number of moves you choose. Copy a FEN from Lichess or Chess.com (Share, then FEN).
Get rated
Your platform rating starts at 1200 and moves with every rated puzzle and every game against the house bots. Captains use it to set board order when there is no ACF or FIDE rating.
Pick an opponent and start a game.
Each puzzle and each house bot carries a rating. A result is scored with the standard Elo expectation: beat something rated above you and you gain more; lose to something rated below and you drop more. Your first 20 rated results move the number faster (K of 40), then it settles (K of 20). Only your first attempt at each puzzle counts.
A platform rating is a guide, not an official ACF or FIDE rating. If you hold one, add it to your registration and captains will use that instead.
Community
Other tournaments, club nights, lightning evenings and chess talk from across the profession.
Upcoming events
Discussion
Newsletter
News of the match, the week's puzzle and events from the community. Every issue links back here to solve the puzzle and score for your side.
Nominate a player
Know a judge, a barrister or a solicitor who plays? Nominate them. The captains will reach out, and you will be credited when they join.
Administration
Set the draw, keep the record, publish photographs and send the newsletter. Changes go live for every member as soon as you save.