Yo #chesspunks! Here’s an interesting position from a rapid game I just played on Lichess. White had grabbed a hot pawn on b7 and I played Re2+. In the game White replied with Kh1. The first question I have for you is: what happens after Kh1? The second is: what should White play instead of Kh1?

Hey #chesspunks… Here’s a fun variation from round 3 of my club championship earlier this week. After grabbing a very hot pawn on b5 with his bishop, white had the option to retreat it after I played Qb6. What would have happened if my opponent had played that? Not too difficult but quite pretty 🤩

Ok #chesspunks, I’m not generally the sort of fellow who likes to share games I won just because they have a pretty conclusion, but the unusual mating pattern at the end of this crazy game made a strong impression on me. I’m not an aficionado of the Leonhardt Gambit but I might yet become one!

Hi @chesspunks, Apparently this sketch has been around for quite a while but I’ve never can’t remember having ever seen it before. It’s quite funny 🤣 Enjoy! www.instagram.com/reel/DYRrmYL...

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What’s up chesspunks? Wanted to share an interesting position from my OTB game last night. The last of the 2025-26 season 😭 It’s Black to play. Total mayhem on the board. I found the right continuation here but missed the full winning sequence and ended up only drawing. Can you do better?

Forgive me chesspunks, it has been some time since my last posting 🙏 … Gonna try and get back to sharing some interesting positions from games I played this last season. Here’s one from last night. A typical Benoni structure has arisen. My opponent has just played 26. Nd2. What would you play here?

Not made this for ages… Smoked Haddock with Cannellini Beans in a cream, mustard and parsley sauce. Just steamed veg to go with. OMG!! 🤤

On a gorgeous sunny Sunday in Yorkshire what could be better than a wonderful moor top walk in Calderdale to clear the cobwebs and lift the spirits. 🤩 There might have been a slice of cake at the end of it too… 🍰 😋

Visited Dominic’s top castle today as we took a trip to Yoros. Excellent recommendation and an antidote to Topkapi. The views are stunning and there is indeed no health and safety on the ruined walls. Whilst there the call to prayer echoed across the Bosphorus. Wow! 🤩 @theresthistory.bsky.social

Whassup #chesspunk! Been a long time since I last posted but here’s an interesting position from my classical game last night in a friendly match against Burnley chess club. Black to play. In a tough position I had elected to give up material to try and expose the White king. What would you do here?

What’s up #chesspunks? Today I wanted to thank @danielkingchess.bsky.social for featuring one of my games on his ever-excellent PowerPlayChess YouTube channel. I’ve been using his Anti-Sicilians for black repertoire recently and have been getting some encouraging results. youtu.be/EMEK3LIVgCQ?...

How to tackle the Alapin

YouTube video by PowerPlayChess

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Morning #chesspunks! This is from my game in the 4NCL Online last night. I’d been slowly outplayed by my higher rated opponent. I’m positionally busted what to do? What would you play with Black here?

R.I.P. Boris Spassky Hey #chesspunks, The 10th World Champ was one of my chess heroes. Today’s sad news triggered a memory of an old post I put on my chess club website in the days when writing about chess was as important to me as playing. (1 of 2) www.hebdenbridgechessclub.co.uk/learn-french...

Here’s the final position from my 5th round game at Blackpool #chesspunks. As Black I was under pressure for much of the game but survived and got to this position. I decided to accept my young opponent’s draw offer. Would you have done the same? If not, how would you have proceeded in the game?

Ok #chesspunks, here’s one of the key positions from my round 4 game at Blackpool this morning. It was a wild and complicated Two Knights Defence. White is winning but it’s extremely complicated and I went wrong here and ended up losing. What would you play after Black’s 20…d4!?

Morning #chesspunks! I am currently playing at Blackpool, one of the biggest weekend chess tournaments in the UK. I’m in the Major (U2050) and it’s very competitive. I’m grinding hard for everything. Yesterday morning I caught a massive break when my opponent touched his king in this position… oops!

Morning #chesspunks and Happy Friday! Here’s a position for you to consider from an OTB game I played earlier this week. It’s White to play and he’s just pushed the Black knight back to g8. How would you follow up?

Here an easy but pretty one for you #chesspunks. Black to play. What’s your move and why?

Knighty-Knight! Part1 Hi #chesspunks, Hope you’re all doing well. This week I have been the beneficiary of some generosity from my opponents. Last night in my OTB match in the Calderdale League came this. White has just played 19.g4. How do we meet that?

This is an interesting new feature… a nice way to get a feel for how you’re doing here. I don’t much care what more score is but if you want to find more you can check my BlueSky-Score and cal quote your own on: blueskyscore.com/inter-mezzo....

BlueSkyScore for Dave Shapland (inter-mezzo.bsky.social): 6.21

What's your score? Check it now!

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Here's a nasty swindle from an online game. This one just goes to show that you should never give up hope while material is still relatively balanced. Black just played 35...Qh4 threatening mate in 1. But what had he missed #chesspunks?

Happy New Year #chesspunks! Here’s a little bit of fun from an online Rapidplay game. Black just played 29…Qf5 and I thought ‘Oh no!’ as my rook and bishop are both attacked and the rook is also pinned. But after a moment of panic. I spotted what?

New Year’s Eve Hiking at the Sound of Sleat on the Isle of Skye in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. Weather conditions were pretty hostile at times but the few breaks in the clouds were well worth the wait. The Sound of Sleat Beach was particularly pretty.

Spending New Year hiking on the Isle of Skye in the north west of Scotland was always likely to involve enduring some severe weather, but there have been some very pleasant interludes so far. Looking forward to hunkering down in the pub with a fire, good beer, good company and good music tonight.

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT! 🚨 @healthinnovyh.bsky.social are hosting our first collaborative networking and peer support event focused on supporting and empowering women in the HealthTech and innovation industry. Find out more and register here: www.healthinnovationyh.org.uk/events/empow... Please share!

Empowered by innovation: Women shaping the future of HealthTech

Join us to explore how the health and care sector can help women to thrive in HealthTech and innovation by tackling funding disparities.

healthinnovationyh.org.uk

A few final snaps from a stormy weekend in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria. Managed to hike up Glaramara on Sunday in fairly hostile conditions. Cloud came down on the descent via Langstrath under the brooding presence of Great End which, like many of the high peaks, was dusted with snow.

After a wet and windy day hiking in the Lake District yesterday, what could be better than a delicious dinner at the Fell Pack in Keswick. Butterbean and winter veg hummus, pigs in blankets and lamb rendang pictured😋 No wonder it’s a firm favourite with locals. Highly recommended! fellpack.co.uk

What’s up #chesspunks? ‘Bout time for another snippet from one of my OTB chess games. This one’s from last Monday night. It’s White to play. What’s the best continuation here? Also, bonus point if you can guess the opening variation from this position. 😜

Escaped for the weekend to the beautiful Lake District in Cumbria 🏔️. The weather’s been challenging 🌧️ but still managed to squeeze some hiking 🥾 in. Yesterday it was Cat Bells and Derwent Water. Predominant colours were rusty browns and reds from the land and steely greys from the water and the sky.

It’s going to be critical for the NHS to adopt innovation faster and at greater scale if it is transform itself and deliver the ‘three shifts’ set out by the UK Government. These recommendations and the health innovation networks will be central to that effort.

Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber@healthinnovyh.bsky.social · 2y ago

We welcome the Innovation Ecosystem Programme recommendations, which highlight the need for clearly defined national #innovation priorities. Read the national Health Innovation Network response: thehealthinnovationnetwork.co.uk/news/health-...