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Sunday 21 August 2016

Nigel vs Dane, Game 2 of the First DeVour Cafe Match-up Tournament

After a 10-minute ride on the motorbike in the fresh August morning air, I arrived at the cafe and ordered some hot tea to warm me after the ride.

I had a plan. I pretty much always lead as White with my King's Knight - which I still planned on doing - but this time, set up a King's Indian style defence instead of focusing on attack from the start.

My defensive start ended up letting Dane gain a big presence in the centre (to be expected), but I managed to obtain the better game. I think the key moves were: first, move 10 - we both made attacking moves with pawns, which I managed to come out a pawn up from once the dust settled; then, move 15, where I took his Knight with my Bishop, creating a doubled pawn for him.

I wouldn't be surprised if Dane wins every game from here, but I'm happy I've at least got one win under my belt.

Current standing (first to 5 points)
  • Dane: 0.5
  • Nigel: 1.5
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. b3 e5 5. d3 d5 6. O-O Bd6 7. Re1 Bg4 8. Nbd2 Qd7 9. Bb2 O-O-O 10. c4 e4 11. cxd5 exf3 12. dxc6 Qxc6 13. Bxf3 Bxf3 14. Nxf3 Rhe8 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Rc1 Kb8 17. d4 b6 18. Qd3 Qe4 19. Qxe4 Rxe4 20. dxc5 Bxc5 21. e3 h5 22. Rcd1 Rg8 23. h3 f5 24. Kh1 Kc7 25. h4 f6 26. Rd5 Black resigns 



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Sunday 14 August 2016

Dane vs Nigel, Game 1 of the First DeVour Cafe Match-up Tournament

I sent a txt to Dane earlier in the week:
A proposal: one morning of every weekend [...], we meet up for a morning game of chess at Annies [Devour Cafe]. We play only one game, and alternate who's white/black each weekend.

Dane was in. I had a semi-neutral party (Davina) flip a coin and the coin said Dane was going to be White.

We played our first game today.

My 4th move, bringing out my Bishop seemed pretty good at the time, but was always going to end with me a piece down for a couple of pawns - not the best start...

... and then I forgot my Knight was guarding my Rook when I moved it on move 18 - I'd seen earlier the potential for a White Bishop sacrifice (which ended up happening on White's 19th move), essentially a trade of a Bishop for a Pawn and Rook. All good for White.

I was almost ready to resign, but the shift in the game came when I advanced my b Pawn one more square - move 20 for Black. Dane didn't see that my Bishop was now attacking his Rook. He took my Pawn and then I took his Rook, essentially evening the game up.

The game continued for another 13 moves before Dane offered a draw, which I accepted.

Not a bad start to our competition, but definitely not filling me with confidence...

The First DeVour Cafe Match-up Tournament will go to the first player to get 5 points:
  • 1 for a win
  • 0.5 for a draw
Current standing:
  • Dane: 0.5
  • Nigel: 0.5


1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. e5 Bb4+ 5. c3 dxc3 6. bxc3 Ba5 7. exf6 Qxf6 8. Qe2+ Qe6 9. Qxe6+ dxe6 10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O Rd8 12. Rd1 c5 13. c4 Nc6 14. a3 b6 15. Bb2 f6 16. Nc3 a6 17. Ne2 e5 18. Nc3 Ne7?? 19. Bxh7+! Kxh7 20. Rxd8 b5 21. cxb5?? Bxd8 22. bxa6 Bxa6 23. Ne4 Rb8 24. Nxc5 Rxb2 25. Nxa6 Bb6 26. Rf1 Ra2 27. Nb4 Rxa3 28. Nc2 Ra2 29. Ne3 g5 30. Rb1 Bxe3 31. fxe3 Kg6 32. g4 Re2 33. Re1 White offers draw, Black accepts.