Nigel vs Dane, Game 2 of the Fifth Boris Chessky Cup Head-To-Head

I was doing better in the game, but only had about 10 minutes left on the clock to Dane's 40, so ended up drawing the game.

First to 5 points: 

• Dane: 1.5
• Nigel: 0.5

1. d4 b6 2. e4 Bb7 3. Bd3 e6 4. Nc3 c5 5. d5 d6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. Bg5 Be7 8. dxe6 fxe6 9. Bxf6(+1.30 → +0.44) Inaccuracy. A better move was 9. e5. (9. e5) 9... Bxf6 10. e5 dxe5 11. Qe2(+1.16 → -0.38) Mistake. The best move was 11. Nxe5. (11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Qh5+) 11... Nd7(-0.27 → +0.73) Inaccuracy. A better move was 11... Nc6. (11... Nc6 12. Ne4 Nd4 13. Nxd4 exd4 14. Bb5+ Kf7 15. Bc4 Bd5 16. O-O) 12. O-O-O a6(+0.90 → +1.84) Inaccuracy. A better move was 12... O-O. (12... O-O) 13. Be4 Bxe4 14. Qxe4 Qb8(+1.88 → +5.44) Mistake. The best move was 14... O-O. (14... O-O 15. Qc6 Ra7 16. Qxe6+ Kh8 17. Rhe1 Qe8 18. Qxe8 Rxe8 19. Rd6) 15. Rd2(+4.65 → +3.34) Inaccuracy. A better move was 15. Qc6. (15. Qc6 O-O 16. Qxe6+ Rf7 17. Rxd7 Qe8 18. Qd5 Qxd7 19. Qxa8+ Rf8) 15... Ra7 16. Rhd1 Ke7 17. h4 h6 18. Qg4(+5.10 → +2.80) Mistake. The best move was 18. g4. (18. g4) 18... Qe8 19. Ne4 Qf8 20. Rd6 Qf7 21. Rc6 Rd8 22. Nd6 Qg8 23. Ne4 Qf7 24. Nd6 Qg8 25. Ne4(+3.04 → 0.00) Blunder. The best move was 25. h5. (25. h5 b5 26. Ne4 Qf7 27. Rcd6 Re8 28. R6d2 Rb8 29. Nd6 Qg8) 25... Qf7 Draw

Dane vs Nigel, Game 1 of the Fifth Boris Chessky Cup Head-To-Head

The first time we've had a game with a time-out. I spent way too long trying to make sure I didn't make a mistake with the Queens/Rooks lining up the centre and left myself with no time to complete the game properly.

First to 5 points: 

• Dane: 1
• Nigel: 0

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. Bc4 Be6 7. Bxe6 fxe6 8. Qh5+ g6 9. Qe2 Qd7 10. Bf4 Bg7 11. Bxb8 Rxb8 12. Nf3 O-O 13. O-O b6 14. Rfe1 Rfe8 15. Rad1 Re7 16. c4 Rbe8 17. a4 Qc7 18. b3 Rd8 19. Rd3 Rde8 20. g3 c5 21. dxc5 Qxc5 22. Qe3 Qxe3 23. Rdxe3 e5 24. Nd2 Bh6 25. R3e2 Rd8 26. Ne4 Kf7 27. Nc3 Bd2 28. Rd1 Red7 29. Nd5 Bh6 30. Kg2 Bf8 31. h3 Bc5 32. g4 Rd6 33. Rf1 Bd4 34. f4 exf4 35. Rxf4 Be5 36. Rxe5 Kg7 37. Re7+ Kh6 38. Rxa7 Re8 39. Rxf6 Rdd8 40. Rff7 Rh8 41. h4 Black loses on time

Dane vs Nigel, Game 8 of the Fourth Boris Chessky Cup Head-To-Head

Again, Dane keeps the cup.

First to 5 points: 

• Dane: 5
• Nigel: 3

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.exd5 { C15: French Defense: Winawer, Delayed Exchange Variation } 4...Bxc3+ { (+0.20 → +0.87) Inaccuracy. A better move was 4... exd5. } ( 4...exd5 5.Bd3 5...Nf6 6.Nf3 6...Nc6 7.O-O 7...O-O 8.h3 8...Bxc3 9.bxc3 ) 5.bxc3 Nf6 6.dxe6 Qe7 7.Bb5+ c6 8.Bc4 { (+1.66 → +0.72) Inaccuracy. A better move was 8. Bd3. } ( 8.Bd3 8...Bxe6 9.Ne2 9...O-O 10.O-O 10...Re8 11.c4 11...Na6 12.c3 12...Bg4 ) 8...b5 { (+0.56 → +1.94) Inaccuracy. A better move was 8... Bxe6. } ( 8...Bxe6 9.Bd3 9...c5 10.dxc5 10...Na6 11.Nf3 11...Nxc5 12.O-O 12...O-O 13.Bf4 ) 9.Bb3 { (+1.79 → +1.09) Inaccuracy. A better move was 9. Bd3. } ( 9.Bd3 9...Bxe6 10.a4 10...Bc4+ 11.Ne2 11...Bxd3 12.cxd3 12...b4 13.O-O 13...O-O ) 9...O-O 10.a4 Bxe6 { (+1.29 → +2.85) Inaccuracy. A better move was 10... Re8. } ( 10...Re8 11.Nf3 11...Bxe6 12.O-O 12...Bxb3 13.cxb3 13...Qb7 14.Re1 14...Rxe1+ 15.Nxe1 ) 11.Ba3 Qe8 12.Ne2 Nbd7 13.Bxf8 Nxf8 14.O-O Qd7 15.h3 Bxh3 { (+2.76 → +4.97) Inaccuracy. A better move was 15... Ng6. } ( 15...Ng6 16.Bxe6 16...Qxe6 17.Re1 17...Qd5 18.axb5 18...cxb5 19.Ra6 19...Qb7 20.Qa1 ) 16.gxh3 Qxh3 17.Nf4 Qh4 18.Qf3 Ng6 19.Nxg6 hxg6 20.Qg3 Qh5 21.axb5 Ne4 22.Qg2 { (+6.33 → +3.72) Mistake. The best move was 22. Qh2. } ( 22.Qh2 22...Qxb5 23.Rfe1 23...Qf5 24.Re3 24...Nd2 25.Qg2 25...Rf8 26.Qxc6 26...Rd8 ) 22...Nxc3 { (+3.63 → +6.41) Inaccuracy. A better move was 22... Ng5. } ( 22...Ng5 23.Bxf7+ 23...Kxf7 24.f4 24...Nh3+ 25.Kh2 25...Nxf4+ 26.Kg1 26...g5 27.b6 ) 23.Bc4 cxb5 { (+5.54 → +12.51) Inaccuracy. A better move was 23... Nxb5. } ( 23...Nxb5 24.Ra5 24...Rd8 25.c3 25...Qh6 26.Bxb5 26...cxb5 27.Rxa7 27...b4 28.Ra8 ) 24.Qxa8+ Kh7 25.Qh1 { (+12.95 → +8.54) Inaccuracy. A better move was 25. Ra3. } ( 25.Ra3 25...Ne4 26.Qxe4 26...bxc4 27.Rxa7 27...f6 28.Re1 28...Qh6 29.d5 29...f5 ) 25...bxc4 26.Qxh5+ gxh5 27.Rxa7 Ne2+ 28.Kg2 Nf4+ 29.Kf3 g5 30.Rxf7+ Kg6 31.Rc7 { (♔ Mate in 11 → +11.81) Missed mate. Checkmate after 31. Rxf4 . } ( 31.Rxf4 31...gxf4 32.d5 32...h4 33.d6 33...h3 34.d7 34...h2 35.Kxf4 35...Kf7 36.d8=Q 36...c3 37.Qc7+ 37...Kf8 38.Qd8+ 38...Kf7 39.Qd5+ 39...Kf6 40.Qe5+ 40...Kf7 41.Qd5+ 41...Kf6 42.Qe5+ 42...Kf7 ) 31...Kf5 { (+12.30 → +48.98) Inaccuracy. A better move was 31... Ne6. } ( 31...Ne6 32.Rxc4 32...Nd8 33.Rc8 33...Ne6 34.Rc4 34...Nd8 35.Rc8 35...Ne6 36.d5 ) 32.Rc5+ Kg6 { (+52.20 → ♔ Mate in 11) Mistake. The best move was 32... Ke6. } ( 32...Ke6 ) 33.Ke4 { (♔ Mate in 11 → +12.57) Missed mate. Checkmate after 33. Ra1 . } ( 33.Ra1 33...Kf7 34.Rc7+ 34...Kf6 35.Ra6+ 35...Ne6 36.Rcc6 36...g4+ 37.Kg3 37...h4+ 38.Kxg4 38...Ke7 39.Rxe6+ 39...Kd7 40.Rh6 40...Kc7 41.Ra7+ 41...Kb8 42.Rg7 42...h3 43.Rh8# ) 33...h4 34.Ra1 Kh5 35.Kf3 { (+21.20 → +12.09) Mistake. The best move was 35. d5. } ( 35.d5 35...h3 36.Rc6 36...c3 37.d6 37...Ne6 38.d7 38...Nd8 39.Rc8 39...Nf7 ) 35...Ne6 36.Rxc4 g4+ 37.Kg2 Nf4+ 38.Kh2 Kg6 { (+105.89 → ♔ Mate in 15) Inaccuracy. A better move was 38... g3+. } ( 38...g3+ 39.fxg3 39...Ng6 40.Ra5+ 40...Kg4 41.d5+ 41...Kf5 42.gxh4 42...Nf8 43.Rc8 ) 39.Rc5 * Qg5 35. e5 Bxe5 1/2-1/2

Nigel vs Dane, Game 7 of the Fourth Boris Chessky Cup Head-To-Head

A blunder on move 22 lost my Queen and the game.

First to 5 points: 

• Dane: 4
• Nigel: 3

1.d4 b6 2.e3 Bb7 3.Nf3 e6 4.c4 c5 { (+0.02 → +0.61) Inaccuracy. A better move was 4... Nf6. } ( 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 5...d5 6.b3 6...Bd6 7.Bb2 7...O-O 8.Be2 8...Nbd7 9.O-O ) 5.d5 d6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Bd3 exd5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 { (+0.83 → +3.00) Mistake. The best move was 8... Be7. } ( 8...Be7 9.O-O 9...O-O 10.e4 10...Ba6 11.h3 11...Bxd3 12.Qxd3 12...Nbd7 13.Bf4 ) 9.Bb5+ Nd7 10.Nxd5 a6 11.Be2 { (+4.65 → +2.77) Mistake. The best move was 11. Bxd7+. } ( 11.Bxd7+ 11...Kxd7 12.O-O 12...Ke8 13.e4 13...h6 14.Re1 14...Be7 15.Bf4 15...Bg5 ) 11...Be7 12.Nxe7 Qxe7 13.O-O Nf6 14.Nd2 h5 15.Bf3 d5 16.b3 O-O-O 17.Qe2 g5 18.g3 g4 19.Bh1 h4 20.Bb2 d4 21.Bxb7+ Kxb7 22.exd4 { (+3.06 → -13.74) Blunder. From winning to losing. The best move was 22. Rfe1. } ( 22.Rfe1 22...d3 23.Bxf6 23...dxe2 24.Bxe7 24...Rxd2 25.Bxh4 25...Rh6 26.f4 26...gxf3 ) 22...Qxe2 23.Nc4 { (-14.67 → -24.31) Inaccuracy. A better move was 23. gxh4. } ( 23.gxh4 23...Qxd2 24.Bc1 24...Qxd4 25.Be3 25...Qd5 26.Bg5 26...Rd6 27.Bf4 27...Rd7 ) 23...hxg3 24.fxg3 { (-26.99 → ♚ Mate in 1) Mistake. The best move was 24. Nd2. } ( 24.Nd2 24...Qxd2 25.h3 25...Qxb2 26.Rae1 26...gxf2+ 27.Rxf2 27...Qxd4 28.Re7+ 28...Kc6 ) 24...Qxh2# *

Dane vs Nigel, Game 6 of the Fourth Boris Chessky Cup Head-To-Head

First to 5 points: 

• Dane: 3
• Nigel: 3

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. b3 Be7 7. O-O Bg4 8. Bb2 Nb4 9. a3 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 O-O 12. Nd2 c6 13. Rfe1 Re8 14. c4 Qd7 15. h3 Bd6 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Ne4 Bc7 18. Bc1 f5 19. Bd2 fxe4 20. Rxe4 Rxe4 21. Qxe4 Re8 22. Qd3 Qd6 23. g3 Qf6 24. b4 Rf8 25. Rf1 Bb6 26. Be3 Nxe3 27. fxe3 Qd6 28. Rxf8+ Qxf8 29. Qc4+ Kh8 30. Kg2 h6 31. Qe6 Bd8 32. Qe4 Bc7 33. Qf3 Qe7 34. e4 Qg5 35. e5 Bxe5 1/2-1/2

Nigel vs Dane, Game 5 of the Fourth Boris Chessky Cup Head-To-Head

First to 5 points: 

• Dane: 2.5
• Nigel: 2.5

The extra analysis on this game didn't come through below, but you should be able to paste the following text into the PGN window at chess.com/analysis-board-editor to see it. 1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 e5 { (+0.16 ? +1.26) Inaccuracy. A better move was 5... Bg7. } ( 5...Bg7 6.Nxc6 6...dxc6 7.Qxd8+ 7...Kxd8 8.e4 8...Be5 9.Be3 9...Nf6 10.f3 ) 6.Nxc6 { (+1.27 ? 0.00) Mistake. The best move was 6. Ndb5. } ( 6.Ndb5 6...a6 7.Nd6+ 7...Bxd6 8.Qxd6 8...Qe7 9.Qxe7+ 9...Ngxe7 10.Ne4 10...O-O ) 6...bxc6 7.g3 Bg7 8.Bg2 Ne7 9.O-O O-O 10.Bg5 Rb8 { (+0.49 ? +3.06) Mistake. The best move was 10... f6. } ( 10...f6 11.Bc1 11...f5 12.Bg5 12...h6 13.Be3 13...Rf6 14.Qd2 14...g5 15.Bc5 ) 11.b3 { (+2.99 ? +0.55) Blunder. The best move was 11. Qd6. } ( 11.Qd6 11...Nf5 12.Bxd8 12...Nxd6 13.Bc7 13...Rxb2 14.Bxd6 14...Re8 15.Ba3 15...Rc2 ) 11...h6 { (+0.59 ? +1.89) Inaccuracy. A better move was 11... Bb7. } ( 11...Bb7 ) 12.Bxe7 { (+1.89 ? -0.07) Mistake. The best move was 12. Qd6. } ( 12.Qd6 12...hxg5 13.Qxb8 13...Qa5 14.Ne4 14...g4 15.Rfd1 15...Nf5 16.Nd6 16...Nxd6 ) 12...Qxe7 13.e3 e4 { (-0.56 ? 0.00) Inaccuracy. A better move was 13... f5. } ( 13...f5 14.e4 14...f4 15.Bh3 15...Rf7 16.Kh1 16...Qf6 17.Qd3 17...Bf8 18.Rg1 ) 14.Rc1 f5 15.Qc2 Rd8 16.Rfd1 Bb7 17.Rd2 d5 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Ne2 Rd7 20.Qd1 Rbd8 21.Nd4 Ba6 { (+0.41 ? +2.23) Mistake. The best move was 21... Bf8. } ( 21...Bf8 22.Nc6 22...Bxc6 23.Rxc6 23...Rd6 24.Qc1 24...Rxc6 25.Qxc6 25...Qd6 26.Rc2 ) 22.Bf1 { (+1.63 ? +0.45) Mistake. The best move was 22. Nc6. } ( 22.Nc6 22...Qd6 23.Nxd8 23...Rxd8 24.Rdc2 24...Bb7 25.Qd2 25...Qb6 26.Bf1 26...a6 ) 22...Bxf1 { (+0.63 ? +1.81) Inaccuracy. A better move was 22... Bxd4. } ( 22...Bxd4 23.Rxd4 23...Bxf1 24.Qxf1 24...Rd6 25.Rc5 25...g5 26.Qc1 26...Qf7 27.b4 ) 23.Qxf1 { (+1.70 ? +0.68) Inaccuracy. A better move was 23. Nc6. } ( 23.Nc6 23...Qe8 24.Nxd8 24...Bd3 25.Nc6 25...Bf8 26.Rxd3 26...exd3 27.Qxd3 27...Kh7 ) 23...Qe8 24.Qa6 Rb8 25.Rc6 Bxd4 26.Rxd4 Kg7 27.Rd2 Qf7 28.Rdc2 d4 29.exd4 Rxd4 { (+1.25 ? +8.84) Blunder. The best move was 29... Re8. } ( 29...Re8 30.d5 30...f4 31.Rd6 31...e3 32.Rxd7 32...Qxd7 33.Qd3 33...fxg3 34.hxg3 ) 30.Rc7 { (+9.17 ? +1.39) Blunder. The best move was 30. Rxg6+. } ( 30.Rxg6+ 30...Qxg6 31.Rc7+ 31...Qf7 32.Rxf7+ 32...Kxf7 33.Qxa7+ 33...Ke6 34.Qxd4 34...Rb5 ) 30...Rd7 31.Qxa7 Rbd8 32.Rxd7 Qxd7 { (+1.22 ? +17.34) Blunder. The best move was 32... Rxd7. } ( 32...Rxd7 33.Qe3 33...Qe6 34.Rd2 34...Rxd2 35.Qxd2 35...g5 36.Qc3+ 36...Kg6 37.Qc4 ) 33.Rc7 1-0

Dane vs Nigel, Game 4 of the Fourth Boris Chessky Cup Head-To-Head

A blunder on move 10 left me struggling for the rest of the game.


First to 5 points: 

• Dane: 2.5
• Nigel: 1.5

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Ne7 5.Nf3 c5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 c4 8.Be2 O-O 9.Ng5 Ng6 10.Bg4 f6 { (-0.02 → +2.67) Blunder. The best move was 10... Bd7. } ( 10...Bd7 11.a4 11...Nc6 12.O-O 12...h6 13.Nh3 13...b6 14.Bh5 14...Nce7 15.Ba3 ) 11.Bxe6+ Kh8 12.Nf7+ Rxf7 13.Bxf7 fxe5 14.Bxg6 hxg6 15.dxe5 Nc6 16.Qe2 Be6 17.O-O Qh4 18.f4 Rf8 19.Be3 b6 20.Qf2 Qe7 21.Qg3 Bf5 22.Qf2 Be4 23.a4 g5 24.Qg3 gxf4 25.Bxf4 Rf5 26.Rae1 g5 { (+1.75 → +3.79) Mistake. The best move was 26... Kg8. } ( 26...Kg8 27.Rf2 27...Nxe5 28.Ref1 28...Rh5 29.h3 29...Kh7 30.Bxe5 30...Qxe5 31.Qxe5 ) 27.Qh3+ { (+4.33 → +2.43) Mistake. The best move was 27. Be3. } ( 27.Be3 27...Rxe5 28.Rf2 28...Kh7 29.Ref1 29...Bg6 30.Rf6 30...Rxe3 31.Qxg5 31...Qe8 ) 27...Qh7 28.Qxh7+ Kxh7 29.Bg3 Rxf1+ 30.Rxf1 Kg7 31.Rf2 Nd8 32.Kf1 Ne6 33.Ke1 Nc5 34.a5 bxa5 35.Kd2 a4 36.Kc1 Kg8 37.Kb2 Kg7 38.Ka3 a5 39.e6 Bg6 { (+2.97 → +6.00) Mistake. The best move was 39... Nxe6. } ( 39...Nxe6 40.Be5+ 40...Kg8 41.g4 41...Nc5 42.Bd4 42...Nb7 43.Kxa4 43...Bg6 44.Rf6 ) 40.Bd6 { (+6.89 → +2.82) Blunder. The best move was 40. Be5+. } ( 40.Be5+ 40...Kg8 41.e7 41...Bf7 42.Rf5 42...Ne6 43.Kxa4 43...Be8+ 44.Kxa5 44...Bf7 ) 40...Nxe6 41.Kxa4 Nf4 { (+3.06 → +4.89) Inaccuracy. A better move was 41... Nd8. } ( 41...Nd8 42.Bc5 42...Be4 43.g4 43...Ne6 44.Bd4+ 44...Kg8 45.Be3 45...Kg7 46.Bd4+ ) 42.Bxf4 gxf4 43.Kxa5 Be4 44.Rxf4 Bxg2 { (+6.99 → +49.18) Mistake. The best move was 44... Kh6. } ( 44...Kh6 45.g3 45...Bxc2 46.h4 46...Kh5 47.Kb5 47...Bd3 48.Kc5 48...Bb1 49.Kxd5 ) 45.Rg4+ Kf6 46.Rxg2 Ke5 47.Kb5 { (♔ Mate in 13 → ♔ Mate in 13) Excellent. Faster mate A better move was 47. h4. } ( 47.h4 47...d4 48.cxd4+ 48...Ke4 49.Kb4 49...Kf5 50.Kxc4 50...Kf4 51.h5 51...Ke4 52.h6 52...Ke3 53.h7 53...Kf3 54.Rg7 54...Ke3 55.h8=Q 55...Kf3 56.Qh1+ 56...Kf4 57.Qf1+ 57...Ke3 58.Re7+ 58...Kd2 59.Re2# ) 47...Ke4 48.Kc5 { (♔ Mate in 12 → ♔ Mate in 12) Excellent. Faster mate A better move was 48. h4. } ( 48.h4 48...Kf3 49.Rg7 49...Ke4 50.h5 50...Kf3 51.h6 51...Ke3 52.Kb4 52...Kd2 53.h7 53...d4 54.Kxc4 54...d3 55.h8=Q 55...Kxc2 56.Qh2+ 56...d2 57.Rg1 57...Kb2 58.Qxd2+ 58...Ka3 59.Ra1# ) 48...Ke3 49.Rg3+ { (♔ Mate in 12 → ♔ Mate in 12) Excellent. Faster mate A better move was 49. h4. } ( 49.h4 49...d4 50.cxd4 50...Kf3 51.Rg5 51...Ke2 52.Kxc4 52...Ke3 53.Kc3 53...Ke4 54.d5 54...Kf4 55.d6 55...Ke4 56.d7 56...Ke3 57.d8=Q 57...Kf3 58.Qf6+ 58...Ke2 59.Re5+ 59...Kd1 60.Qf1# ) 49...Kd2 50.Kxd5 Kxc2 51.Kxc4 { (♔ Mate in 9 → ♔ Mate in 9) Excellent. Faster mate A better move was 51. h4. } ( 51.h4 51...Kd1 52.h5 52...Ke2 53.h6 53...Kf2 54.Rg7 54...Ke3 55.h7 55...Kd2 56.h8=Q 56...Kxc3 57.Rg3+ 57...Kc2 58.Qh2+ 58...Kc1 59.Rg1# ) 51...Kd2 52.h4 { (♔ Mate in 8 → ♔ Mate in 8) Excellent. Faster mate A better move was 52. Kd4. } ( 52.Kd4 52...Ke2 53.c4 53...Kd2 54.Rg2+ 54...Ke1 55.Kd3 55...Kf1 56.Rg5 56...Kf2 57.Rg3 57...Kf1 58.Ke3 58...Ke1 59.Rg1# ) *

Nigel vs Dane, Game 3 of the Fourth Boris Chessky Cup Head-To-Head

Game 3 was, if I do say so myself, a very good game.

I believe it's been 588 days since I'd won a Chessy Cup game, with only one Chessy Cup draw in that mix.

That's exactly 7 times as long as Santiago, the old fisherman in Hemingway's The Old Man And The Sea, went without catching a fish. He went 84 days without catching a fish. The connection seems relevant.


First to 5 points: 

• Dane: 1.5
• Nigel: 1.5

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 d5 3. c4 c6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 g6 7. e3 Bg7 8. h3 O-O 9. a3 a6 10. Bd3 Re8 11. O-O b5 12. Rc1 Bb7 13. Qd2 b4(+0.02 → +0.89) Inaccuracy. A better move was 13... e6. (13... e6 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Ne4 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Ne2) 14. Na4 a5 15. Nc5 Bc8(+1.14 → +2.66) Inaccuracy. A better move was 15... Qb6. (15... Qb6 16. Qe2 Ne4 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Bxe4 e5 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Bxb7) 16. Ne5(+2.52 → +1.27) Inaccuracy. A better move was 16. Bb5. (16. Bb5 Qb6 17. Qe2 Na7 18. Bxe8 Nxe8 19. axb4 Qxb4 20. Ne5 Bf5) 16... Nxe5 17. Bxe5 bxa3 18. bxa3 Nd7(+1.23 → +2.52) Inaccuracy. A better move was 18... Rf8. (18... Rf8 19. Qa2 e6 20. Bb5 Qe7 21. Bg3 Ra7 22. Bh4 e5 23. dxe5) 19. Bxg7(+2.51 → +1.09) Mistake. The best move was 19. Ne6. (19. Ne6 Qb6 (19... fxe6 20. Bc7) 20. Nxg7 Rf8 21. Bc7 Qf6 22. Qa2 Kxg7 23. Qxd5 Ra7) 19... Kxg7 20. Bb5 Nxc5(+1.02 → +2.07) Inaccuracy. A better move was 20... Ra7. (20... Ra7 21. Rfd1 Rh8 22. e4 dxe4 23. Bxd7 Bxd7 24. d5 Qa8 25. Nxe4) 21. Rxc5 Rf8 22. Bc6 Ba6 23. Rxa5 Ra7 24. Rc1 e6 25. Bb5 Bxb5(+1.44 → +3.83) Mistake. The best move was 25... Qa8. (25... Qa8 26. a4 Rb8 27. Bc6 Bb7 28. Rxa7 Qxa7 29. Bb5 Qa8 30. Qd3) 26. Rxa7 Bc4 27. Rb1 Qd6 28. Qa5 Rb8 29. Rxb8(+7.59 → +5.23) Inaccuracy. A better move was 29. Rxf7+. (29. Rxf7+ Kxf7 30. Qa7+ Kf6 31. Rxb8 Be2 32. Rb7 Qf8 33. Rxh7 g5) 29... Qxb8 30. Ra8 Qb1+ 31. Kh2 Qe4 32. Qd8 Bf1 33. Qh8+ Kh6 34. Qf8+ Kh5 35. g4+ Kg5 36. f4+ Kf6 37. Qh8+ Ke7 38. Qd8#

Dane vs Nigel, Game 2 of the Fourth Boris Chessky Cup Head-To-Head

Game 2 of the Fourth Boris Chessky Cup Head-To-Head played at Watery Mouth Cafe with extra chess.com analysis sent through from Dane, who again played well... thought I might've had him for a while there.

First to 5 points: 

• Dane: 1.5
• Nigel: 0.5

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qxd4 d5 6.exd6 Nxd6 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Qe3+ Qe7 9.O-O Qxe3 10.Bxe3 Bf5 11.Bxf5 Nxf5 12.Bg5 Be7 { (-0.65 → +0.15) Inaccuracy. A better move was 12... f6. } ( 12...f6 13.Re1+ 13...Kf7 14.Be3 14...Re8 15.Bf4 15...Rxe1+ 16.Nxe1 16...Bb4 17.Nc3 ) 13.Re1 { (+0.10 → -0.63) Inaccuracy. A better move was 13. Bxe7. } ( 13.Bxe7 13...Nfxe7 14.Rd1 14...Rd8 15.Nc3 15...f6 16.Rxd8+ 16...Kxd8 17.Re1 17...h5 ) 13...f6 14.Bf4 O-O-O 15.Nc3 Bb4 16.a3 Bxc3 17.bxc3 g5 18.Bc1 h5 19.Re6 Rd6 20.Rxd6 Nxd6 21.Bb2 Nc4 22.Bc1 Rd8 23.Kf1 g4 24.Ne1 N6e5 25.f4 gxf3 { (-1.67 → -0.87) Inaccuracy. A better move was 25... Nc6. } ( 25...Nc6 26.a4 26...b6 27.Nd3 27...Ne7 28.g3 28...Nd5 29.Nb2 29...Nd6 30.Bd2 ) 26.Nxf3 Ng4 { (-1.88 → -0.96) Inaccuracy. A better move was 26... Nxf3. } ( 26...Nxf3 27.gxf3 27...Rd1+ 28.Kf2 28...Nxa3 29.Rxa3 29...Rxc1 30.Ra2 30...a6 31.Kg3 ) 27.h3 Nge3+ 28.Ke2 Re8 { (-1.41 → +0.22) Mistake. The best move was 28... Nd5. } ( 28...Nd5 29.Bd2 29...a5 30.a4 30...Nxd2 31.Kxd2 31...Nf4+ 32.Kc1 32...Rg8 33.g4 ) 29.Kd3 Rd8+ { (-0.24 → +0.96) Inaccuracy. A better move was 29... f5. } ( 29...f5 30.Bxe3 30...Nxe3 31.Re1 31...f4 32.g4 32...Rd8+ 33.Ke4 33...hxg4 34.hxg4 ) 30.Nd4 Re8 { (+0.94 → +3.07) Mistake. The best move was 30... c5. } ( 30...c5 31.Bxe3 31...Nxe3 32.Kxe3 32...cxd4+ 33.cxd4 33...Rg8 34.Kf2 34...h4 35.Re1 ) 31.Bxe3 Nxe3 32.Re1 Rd8 33.Kxe3 c5 34.Ne2 Re8+ 35.Kf4 Rg8 36.g3 Kd7 37.c4 Rg5 38.Nc3 h4 39.Ne4 Rg7 40.Nxc5+ { (+9.77 → +4.39) Blunder. The best move was 40. Nxf6+. } ( 40.Nxf6+ 40...Kd8 41.gxh4 41...Rg2 42.Re8+ 42...Kc7 43.h5 43...Rf2+ 44.Ke5 44...Re2+ ) 40...Kc6 41.Ne4 hxg3 42.Nxg3 Rh7 43.Kg4 Rg7+ 44.Kh4 Rh7+ 45.Nh5 Rd7 46.Nxf6 Rd4+ 47.Re4 Rd6 48.Kg5 Rd2 49.h4 Rg2+ 50.Rg4 Kd6 { (+11.96 → +61.87) Inaccuracy. A better move was 50... Rd2. } ( 50...Rd2 51.h5 51...Rd8 52.Re4 52...Rd1 53.h6 53...Rg1+ 54.Rg4 54...Rh1 55.h7 )

Nigel vs Dane, Game 1 of the Fourth Boris Chessky Cup Head-To-Head

A few firsts for the first game of the Fourth Boris Chessky Cup Head-To-Head:

• first time playing at the Watery Mouth Cafe; 
• first time playing with chess clock time restraints (60 minutes each, no increment - neither of us got into time trouble, but it was an interesting factor to the game); 
• first time playing with the touch-move rule (didn't end up a problem, but, again, was interesting having that potential rule hanging over us, compared to our usual social approach to the games).

First to 5 points: 

• Dane: 0.5
• Nigel: 0.5

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 d5 3. c4 c6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 g6 7. e3 Bg7 8. h3 a6 9. Bd3 O-O 10. a3 Re8 11. O-O Nh5 12. Bh2 Bh8 13. b4 b5 14. Rc1 Bb7 15. Ne2 f6 16. Nf4 Ng7 17. Ne2 e5 18. dxe5 fxe5 19. Bb1 Nh5 20. Ba2 Nf6 21. Nc3 e4 22. Nd4 Nxd4 23. Qxd4 Rc8 24. Ne2 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Ng4 26. Qd2 Nxh2 27. Kxh2 Be5+ 28. Kg1 Kg7 29. Rc5 Re7 30. Nd4 Bd6 31. Qc3 Kh6 32. Rxd5 Bxd5 33. Bxd5 Rc7 34. Qd2 Bxb4 35. axb4 Qxd5 36. g4 Qc4 37. Nf5+ gxf5 38. Qd6+ Kg7 39. Qe5+ Kf8 40. Qxf5+ Rf7 41. Qe5 Qe2 42. Qh8+ Ke7 43. Qe5+ Kd8 44. Qh8+ Kd7 45. Qd4+ Ke6 46. Qxe4+ Kf6 47. Qd4+ Kg6 48. Qe4+ Kg7 49. Qd4+ Kg8 50. Qd8+ Rf8 51. Qd5+ Kg7 52. Qe5+ Rf6 53. Qg5+ Rg6 54. Qe7+ Kh8 55. Qe5+ Rg7 1/2-1/2

Nigel vs Dane, Game 6 of the Third Boris Chessky Cup Head-To-Head

Dane retains the cup.


First to 5 points: 

• Dane: 5.5
• Nigel: 0.5

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 d5 3. c4 c6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 g6 6. e3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ Bd7 8. Ne5 Bxb5 9. Nxb5 Qa5+ 10. Nc3 Ne4 11. Qa4+ Qxa4 12. Nxa4 Bxe5 13. dxe5 Nc6 14. f4 Nd8 15. Nc3 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Ne6 17. Ba3 Rc8 18. Rc1 Kd7 19. O-O Rc4 20. g3 Rhc8 21. Bb2 Nc5 22. Rfd1 e6 23. Rd4 Ne4 24. Rxc4 Rxc4 25. Kf1 h5 26. Ke2 a5 27. Rc2 b5 28. Kd3 Nc5+ 29. Kd2 Ne4+ 30. Kd1 Kc6 31. Ba1 b4 32. cxb4 axb4 33. Rb2 Kc5 34. Rb3 Kb5 35. Bd4 Ka4 36. Rb1 Ka3 37. Rb2 Rxd4+ White resigns