I'm +4 apparently and that pin is great, but there's a world of difference between knowing that and having a clue how to finish it which is why I sensibly took a draw given the remaining time 😂

This one was somewhat out of character too (last 4NCL match) @simaginfan.bsky.social 😂

Presumably this common law to which they refer falls under the same urban myth of legal protection as "common law husband/wife" 🤨

Flagged in the club rapid tournament @simaginfan.bsky.social after playing my "immortal game" as black (black to play) 😭 A very typically imbalanced Grunfeld game with positional and material compensation for the minor piece 😉

Slightly unclear photo so apologies.

Bologan vs Akopian 1992
White to play...

JOHN L. McCUTCHEON DEAD.; Pittsburg Lawyer Was a Well-Known Chess Player and Patron. (Published 1905)

www.nytimes.com/1905/07/17/a...

An obituary to John Lindsay McCutcheon in 1905. A great patron of the chess world and a good player in his own right, he has a French Defence variation named after him.

A nice tactical spot from one of my recent Rapid games. Black can avoid the worst case scenario, but still ends up badly damaged. White to play...

I say this as someone who’s only been a Democrat for 10 days: The only “purity tests” for Democrats right now should be this - Do you support freedom, democracy, the rule of law, the Constitution, and basic human decency?

Yes. Yes, DOGE was all bullshit. It was from the very beginning. But it was very dangerous, destructive bullshit.👇

YouTube video by Millo Salgado The Sundays - Summertime, live at TOTP

youtu.be/W7A9ay4kUBs?...

Static and Silence remains one of my favourite albums. Absolutely belting stuff 🙂

Offered the draw here with both of us on about 30 secs left and while it may be tempting to try and flag your opponent in this situation, it's probably not the best option if you're unsure of the path and there are increments. White eventually ran out of time...

Enjoyed calculating this. Black to play...

Time for a few casual games on Thursday night while our team was playing the final league match of the season. This one produced some rather interesting ending studies where more active pieces managed to hold for Black.

Fantastic performance from our club at Durham Chess Congress so far...

Minor Section

Deborah 2½/3
Bryan 2½/3
Greg 2/3
Mike 2/3

Major Section

Brian 1/3

One very proud captain here 🙂

My wife is 2/2 so far in the Minor Section at Durham Chess Congress...really very proud 🙂

Usually a pretty small section in KID books, so making this my congress purchase was definitely a no brainer 😁

👍 Yup - a lot easier with a longer time control where the temptation to win the exchange immediately (and lose your queen in the process) isn't the first thought 😉

😂 I'm a Grünfeld player and it's the first time I've had this one crop up tbh. Reminiscent of those Reti lines where the Queen swings out to the flank for a check to regain the pawn. Pretty sharp and a lot of fun though 😉

Theoretical chess opening line, or Kama Sutra position...🤨

Theoretical chess opening line, or Kama Sutra position...🤨

Horrible. I know, we'll take out the colour that made Gulf Oil livery acceptable and use the bilious orange by itself 🤨

Interesting position from one of my online games. Black to play and win...it's a bit trickier than it first appears!

After the number of utterly bizarre incidents I've experienced over the last few years playing chess, I think that there's probably a book to write.

If Boards Could Talk: The Trials and Tribulations of a Chess Club Captain

Has a nice ring to it I think 😂

And for any self-respecting Gen Xer who watched Saturday kids shows...

Billy Ray Cyrus too it seems...

After the trauma of my journey back up north from King's Cross the other week, I'd be putting in a clause about cheap headphones where you may as well be playing it over a speaker as well 😒

Good win for Bishop Auckland Chess club away at Peterlee last night 1½-2½. Nice for me to win as well after a pretty underwhelming season on the whole 🙂

We're usually put through our paces with a sulk on return from holidays, think our lass has managed 10 days fine this time round 🙂

Amateurs, pulled in off the street and handed a Reform rosette, potentially in control of multimillion pound council budgets...what could possibly go wrong? 🤨

The only "cutting DEI" which would make much of difference in council spending is to stop super-serving - comparatively - its elderly population. Put that on your leaflets.

Great finish to the 4NCL online season for Bishop Auckland Chess Club against Hebden Bridge with a 3-1 win. Well played everyone - a really good season overall and a very exciting match last night!