Reflections | Dr.Dave's Chess

I haven’t played serious chess for a while and doubt I will again. The chess achievement I am proudest of is winning the Exeter Chess Club Championship six times. However, I think I have never been the best player in the club, certainly not the highest-rated, on any of these occasions. So how come? In a Swiss, you have to win all or most of your games, and there’s usually one crucial game against the favourite. Evaluations and ?! mostly by Stockfish and me.

2003-2004: graham bolt – The briar patch

This was before Graham’s Hedghog period, and he rather helpfully played into a line that I knew fairly well and which I think is not dangerous to Black. Graham of course is highly dangerous, but seemed content to wait for me to lose rather than press strongly for his own cause.

   [Event "Exeter Club Ch'p"]  [Site "https://lichess.org/study/9EbPT3cL/Br3ZgvhT"]  [Date "2003.??.??"]  [White "Bolt, G."]  [Black "Regis, D."]  [Result "0-1"]  [Annotator "JF"]  [UTCDate "2023.10.24"]  [UTCTime "21:26:42"]  [Variant "Standard"]  [ECO "C11"]  [Opening "French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation"]   { 'Thanks for taking the time to comment, James. And my apologies for being vague: I actually had the Black pieces in this game. [DR]' }  1. e4 { [%eval 0.36] } 1... e6 { [%eval 0.0] } 2. d4 { [%eval 0.3] } 2... d5 { [%eval 0.4] } { 'The French is quite new to me, although I played it as a beginner. My results are much better with it than the Modern and Sicilian that I have been using since: it seems easier for Black to create concrete problems for White. [DR]' } 3. Nc3 { [%eval 0.0] } 3... Nf6 { [%eval 0.0] } 4. e5 { [%eval 0.0] } 4... Nfd7 { [%eval 0.0] } { 'Not my favourite line of the French so far: it's sometimes quite hard to work up winning chances against White's simple strategy [DR]' } 5. Nce2 { [%eval 0.0] } { 'This plausible move moves a piece twice in the opening and blocks the f1 bishop. If black does not take on d4 later, then white will have to play dxc5 followed by Ned4 to activate his pieces. See supplemental game 1 for a game where white does not play Nce2. [JF]' 'It seems JF's reasons make it an *im*plausible move... Of course, it's not hard to find positive reasons for it: it frees c3 for a Pawn, moves a piece to the King's-side and defends d4... The f1 Bishop has perhaps a future on h3, attacking f5 and e6. White does have alternatives: [DR]' } 5... c5 { [%eval 0.0] } 6. f4 { [%eval 0.0] } { 'The battle plans are clear. White will strive a kingside play while black will strive for a queenside play. This is one of the reasons I prefer blocked positions. The plans for each side are clear, each side usually plays in the direction your pawn chain is pointing. Whoever can get the initiative will have the better chances. [JF]' 'It's often recommended that you steer clear of closed games until you have got pretty good at chess, because the plans are rarely so clear: is this type of position an exception? Probably it is. [DR]' } 6... Nc6 { [%eval 0.03] } 7. Nf3 { [%eval 0.0] } { ' Black has played all sorts of things here. John Watson's new third edition of Play The French recommends here either 7...cxd4 or 7...Be7 [DR]' } 7... b5 { [%eval 0.22] } { 'This is an excellent move! Usually black has to play a6 to get in b5, but since the f1 bishop is blocked black is able to play this. In my opinion black has equalized and can be happy with his opening play. [JF]' 'This advance is too tempting, often you have to prepare it, it's so nice to be able to play it at once. Watson says this is "more logical once White has played g2-g3". That may be true but is not compelling. The bigger problem with this type of move, I think, in general is that often things fizzle out quickly on the opened Queen's-side, with a draw as the most likely result. [DR]' } 8. c3 { [%eval 0.3] } { ' Not White's only try...[DR]' } 8... b4 { [%eval 0.26] } { ' Another excellent move, black already has the initiative and is dictating play. [JF]' 'Again, a very natural move to want to play. [DR]' } 9. Be3?! { [%eval -0.49] } { Inaccuracy. f5 was best. } { ' Another natural move but probably not best.[DR]' } 9... bxc3 { [%eval -0.13] } { 'Relieving the tension easing whites task, black should keep the tension and play Ba6 or Rb8 here.[JF]' } 10. bxc3 { [%eval -0.32] } 10... Qa5 { [%eval -0.02] } { 'Ba6 would be better here, hitting the c4 square and has the potential to take the f1 bishop after the knight moves. [JF]' 'I liked the direct threat of the text move, and the gain of tempo: Black seems to have worked up a little initiative already. [DR]' } 11. Bd2 { [%eval 0.0] } 11... cxd4?! { [%eval 0.7] } { Inaccuracy. Nb6 was best. } { 'This is a big no no. This allows whites pieces to have better lines and get to good squares. This brings to mind some things I have read in some chess books. The first is this move allows white to gain in time so to speak. Since black is "forcing" the e knight to go to d4, white has a centralized knight and open lines for the f1 bishop. The second is a chapter I read in Training for the Tournament player called "The superfluous piece". His examples aren't exactly like this position but, the principles still apply. Since neither white knight is particularly active at the moment make white initiate the dxc4 exchange so one of the black pieces can come towards the center. Better was Ba6.[JF]' 'Everything James says about the duff White Knights is true, so why this move? I'd got anxious about c3-c4, not just giving White a chance to dump the weakling on c3, but perhaps opening lines against my uncastled King after an exchange on d5. So I was happy to seek to stabilise the pawn position before completing development. [DR]' } 12. Nexd4 { [%eval 0.6] } { 'Naturally[JF]' 'Isn't that interesting: I thought this move unnatural, creating a weakness on c3 [DR]' } 12... Nxd4 { [%eval 0.67] } 13. Nxd4?! { [%eval -0.25] } { Inaccuracy. cxd4 was best. } { ' Graham is trying to win by keeping an asset (d4 outpost) at cost of a weakness (c3 Pawn).[DR]' } 13... Ba6 { [%eval 0.12] } { ' Finally, but now it s too late for this to be as effective.[JF]' 'I was happy to have swapped a pair of pieces, created a weakness on c3 and got a chance to play this thematic move [DR]' } 14. Be2?! { [%eval -0.55] } { Inaccuracy. Bxa6 was best. } { 'Safe but if you want to win games you sometimes have to take the sharper option [DR]' } 14... Rc8 { [%eval -0.24] } { 'Probably not the strongest, black isn't threatening to take the c pawn. I would suggest Bc5 as an improvement.[JF]' 'Ah, this wasn't to threaten to take the Pawn, but restrain it from going to c4 (Nimzovitch of course advised that the correct course was firstly to Restrain, then Blockade, and finally Destroy) [DR]' } 15. O-O { [%eval -0.08] } { 'With black exchanging pieces and easing the pressure on whites center and queenside, white now has the initiative and is ready to play f5.[JF]' 'The way I'd assess this is: only now can White complete development, having conceded an important weakness on c3. White must create some counterchances because his Pawns are horrible. It's very easy to come up with plausible but competing interpretations of a position: experience can help decide between them, but concrete analysis is better. [DR]' } 15... g6 { [%eval 0.11] } { 'To "stop" f5, but it really doesn't accomplish this. Developing the bishop to c5 was probably better.[JF]' 'The move does stop f4-f5 for the moment... see the comments on move 16 [DR]' } 16. Kh1 { [%eval 0.32] } { 'Perhaps unnecessary as of yet?! This is to stop Bc5 from pinning the knight on e4. But certainly a plausible move and doesn't harm whites game. [JF]' } 16... Bxe2? { [%eval 0.77] } { 'I think this is the real culprit, bringing the White Queen in line with the Black King. Normally Black wants to dump the bad Bishop, but at the moment it's not a bad piece. White is still threatening c3-c4 but Black can stop it. [DR]' } 17. Qxe2 { [%eval 0.68] } 17... Bc5?! { [%eval 1.16] } 18. Nb3? { [%eval -0.26] } { Mistake. f5 was best. } 18... Qc7 { [%eval -0.34] } 19. c4 { [%eval -0.2] } { After all Black's anxiety, this move still cannot be prevented, making White's weakness vanish: White now holds a small advantage [DR] } 19... dxc4 { [%eval -0.26] } 20. Qxc4 { [%eval -0.23] } 20... O-O { [%eval -0.27] } 21. Rac1 { [%eval -0.26] } { There is now an interesting little dance around on the Queen's-side, played fairly quickly as we had already consumed a good part of our time (the rate of play was 36/75min+15min, which I think is pretty brisk)[DR] } 21... Qb6 { [%eval 0.18] } 22. Ba5?! { [%eval -0.83] } { Inaccuracy. Qd3 was best. } 22... Qb7 { [%eval -0.91] } 23. Qd3 { [%eval -0.88] } 23... Ba3 { [%eval -0.45] } 24. Rb1 { [%eval -0.63] } 24... Qc6 { [%eval -0.26] } 25. Nd2 { [%eval -0.22] } 25... Qa4 { [%eval -0.11] } 26. Nb3? { [%eval -1.24] } { Mistake. Qb5 was best. } 26... Nc5?! { [%eval -0.45] } { Inaccuracy. Nb6 was best. } 27. Qd4 { [%eval -0.6] } 27... Qxd4?! { [%eval -0.05] } { Inaccuracy. Qc6 was best. } 28. Nxd4 { [%eval -0.09] } 28... Ne4 { [%eval -0.03] } { (-c3-d5: [DR]) } 29. Rfe1 { [%eval -0.24] } 29... Nf2+ { [%eval -0.27] } 30. Kg1 { [%eval -0.19] } 30... Bc5 { [%eval -0.03] } 31. Kxf2 { [%eval -0.08] } 31... Bxd4+ { [%eval 0.0] } { The position has stabilised after a long fluid phase: Fritz prefers White [DR] } 32. Kf3 { [%eval -0.1] } 32... Rc2 { [%eval 0.0] } 33. Re2 { [%eval 0.02] } 33... Rfc8?? { [%eval 3.05] } { Blunder. Rc6 was best. } 34. Rb8?? { [%eval 0.15] } { Blunder. Rxc2 was best. } (34. Rxc2 Rxc2 35. Rb8+ Kg7 36. Bd8) 34... Kg7 { [%eval 0.31] } 35. Rxc8 { [%eval -0.04] } 35... Rxc8 { [%eval 0.0] } 36. Bb4 { [%eval -0.01] } 36... Rc4 { [%eval 0.0] } 37. Be7 { [%eval -0.08] } 37... Rc3+ { [%eval -0.06] } 38. Ke4 { [%eval -0.37] } 38... Bc5 { [%eval -0.13] } { A critical moment: White accepts a bind on his King and Rook but hoping to harass the Black King (both sides clearly still trying to win) [DR] } (38... Bb6) 39. Bf6+!? { [%eval -0.31] } 39... Kh6 { [%eval 0.0] } 40. Bg5+ { [%eval -0.36] } 40... Kg7 { [%eval -0.32] } 41. Bd8!? { [%eval -0.4] } { White still wants to win, and now seeks to undo the bind. [DR] } 41... h5 { [%eval -0.17] } 42. g3?! { [%eval -0.77] } { Inaccuracy. Bf6+ was best. } 42... Ra3 { [%eval -0.59] } 43. Bc7 { [%eval -0.65] } 43... Rc3 { [%eval -0.33] } 44. Ba5 { [%eval -0.24] } 44... Ra3 { [%eval -0.17] } 45. Be1 { [%eval -0.28] } 45... Bg1 { [%eval -0.11] } 46. h4?? { [%eval -2.69] } { Blunder. Bf2 was best. } (46. Bf2 Bxh2 47. Bc5 Ra5 48. Bf2 h4 49. gxh4 Ra3 50. Bxa7) 46... a6 { [%eval -2.82] } 47. f5? { [%eval -5.25] } { Mistake. Bf2 was best. } { ' More a move about emotions than logic: there is a hope to get the King to g5, but the newly vacant g6 square enables Black to stop this instantly, and White is simply lost hereafter [DR]' } 47... gxf5+ { [%eval -5.02] } 48. Kf4 { [%eval -5.2] } 48... Kg6 { [%eval -5.14] } 49. Bf2 { [%eval -5.28] } 49... Ra4+ { [%eval -5.41] } 50. Kf3 { [%eval -5.16] } 50... Bxf2 { [%eval -4.34] } 51. Kxf2 { [%eval -4.94] } 51... Ra3?! { [%eval -3.92] } { Inaccuracy. Re4 was best. } 52. Rc2 { [%eval -3.68] } 52... f6?? { [%eval 0.0] } { Blunder. Ra5 was best. } (52... Ra5 53. Re2 f6 54. exf6 Kxf6) 53. exf6?? { [%eval -4.6] } { Blunder. Rc6 was best. } (53. Rc6 Kf7 54. Rc7+) 53... Kxf6 { [%eval -4.83] } 54. Kg2 { [%eval -4.76] } 54... a5 { [%eval -4.63] } 55. Kh3?! { [%eval -6.16] } { Inaccuracy. Rb2 was best. } 55... f4 { [%eval -6.21] } 56. Rf2 { [%eval -6.81] } 56... Rxg3+ { [%eval -6.66] } 57. Kh2 { [%eval -6.63] } 57... e5 { [%eval -6.66] } 58. Rc2 { [%eval -6.84] } 58... Ra3 { [%eval -6.48] } 59. Rc6+ { [%eval -7.21] } 59... Kf5 { [%eval -7.26] } 60. Rh6 { [%eval -8.13] } 60... Rxa2+ { [%eval -7.61] } 61. Kg1 { [%eval -11.67] } 61... Kg4 { [%eval -12.03] } 62. Rg6+ { [%eval -16.13] } 62... Kf3 { [%eval -16.0] } 63. Rh6 { [%eval -15.83] } 63... Kg3 { [%eval -11.54] } 64. Kf1 { [%eval -13.23] } { 'I got Fritz 5 to blundercheck this game, and it piddles all over the end of this game in ways I neither understand nor care about...[DR]' } 64... Kf3 { [%eval -14.92] } 65. Ke1 { [%eval -13.73] } 65... e4 { [%eval -14.19] } 66. Re6 { [%eval -14.7] } 66... e3 { [%eval -21.66] } 67. Kd1 { [%eval -17.96] } 67... Kf2 { [%eval #-8] } 68. Re5 { [%eval #-8] } 68... f3 { [%eval #-9] } 69. Kc1 { [%eval -11.78] } 69... e2 { [%eval #-13] } 70. Kb1 { [%eval #-6] } 70... Rd2 { [%eval #-5] } 71. Kc1 { [%eval #-5] } 71... e1=Q+ { [%eval #-4] } 72. Rxe1 { [%eval #-4] } 72... Kxe1 { [%eval #-3] } { 'Flag fall[DR]' 0-1 Bolt,G-Regis,D/Exeter Club Ch'p 2003/[DR] } 0-1

2004-2005: Brian Hewson – the patriarch

Brian is a very experienced and practical player but allowed himself to covet a pawn, which gave me a sustained initiative that was wearisome to defend against, resulting in a slip.

   [Event "Exeter Club Ch'p"]  [Site "https://lichess.org/study/9EbPT3cL/E9wJ81SO"]  [Date "2004.12.21"]  [Round "2"]  [White "Regis, D."]  [Black "Hewson, BWR"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteElo "2090"]  [BlackElo "2090"]  [UTCDate "2023.10.24"]  [UTCTime "21:26:42"]  [Variant "Standard"]  [ECO "A00"]  [Opening "Hungarian Opening"]  [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/DrDaveExeter"]   1. g3 { [%eval 0.09] } 1... d5 { [%eval 0.26] } 2. c4?! { [%eval -0.38] } { Inaccuracy. Nf3 was best. } 2... dxc4 { [%eval 0.0] } 3. Bg2 { [%eval -0.09] } 3... c6?! { [%eval 0.48] } { Inaccuracy. e5 was best. } 4. Nf3 { [%eval 0.29] } 4... Nd7 { [%eval 0.56] } 5. Na3 { [%eval 0.41] } 5... Nb6 { [%eval 0.46] } 6. Qc2 { [%eval 0.4] } 6... g6 { [%eval 0.3] } 7. Nxc4 { [%eval 0.4] } 7... Bg7 { [%eval 0.52] } 8. O-O { [%eval 0.35] } 8... Nxc4 { [%eval 0.26] } 9. Qxc4 { [%eval 0.22] } 9... Be6 { [%eval 0.52] } 10. Qc2 { [%eval 0.51] } 10... h6 { [%eval 0.75] } 11. d3 { [%eval 0.35] } 11... Qd7 { [%eval 0.66] } 12. Bf4 { [%eval 0.54] } 12... Bh3 { [%eval 1.03] } 13. Rac1 { [%eval 0.6] } { (loses a Pawn!) } 13... Bxg2 { [%eval 0.66] } 14. Kxg2 { [%eval 0.5] } 14... g5 { [%eval 0.64] } 15. Bd2 { [%eval 0.58] } 15... g4 { [%eval 0.68] } 16. Nh4 { [%eval 0.43] } 16... Qd5+?! { [%eval 1.53] } { Inaccuracy. Bf6 was best. } 17. e4 { [%eval 1.51] } 17... Qxa2 { [%eval 2.05] } 18. Bc3 { [%eval 1.52] } 18... Bxc3 { [%eval 1.5] } 19. Qxc3 { [%eval 1.64] } 19... Rh7 { [%eval 1.36] } 20. Nf5 { [%eval 1.45] } 20... Qa6 { [%eval 1.64] } 21. Ng7+ { [%eval 1.08] } 21... Kf8 { [%eval 1.12] } 22. Nf5 { [%eval 0.7] } 22... Qb6 { [%eval 1.04] } 23. f3 { [%eval 0.57] } 23... gxf3+ { [%eval 0.87] } 24. Rxf3 { [%eval 1.01] } 24... Nf6?! { [%eval 2.17] } { Inaccuracy. Rd8 was best. } 25. Nxe7! { [%eval 2.34] } 25... Nxe4?! { [%eval 3.74] } { Inaccuracy. Kxe7 was best. } 26. Ng6+ { [%eval 3.71] } 26... Kg8 { [%eval 2.47] } 27. Ne7+ { [%eval 2.43] } 27... Kf8 { [%eval 2.42] } 28. dxe4 { [%eval 3.46] } 28... Kxe7 { [%eval 3.31] } 29. Qf6+?! { [%eval 2.39] } { Inaccuracy. Rd1 was best. } 29... Ke8 { [%eval 2.37] } 30. Rcf1? { [%eval 0.68] } { Mistake. Rd1 was best. } (30. Rd1 Qc5 31. Rd6 Qg5 32. Qd4 Rd8 33. Rf5) 30... Rd8 { [%eval 0.64] } 31. R1f2 { [%eval 0.17] } 31... Qd4 { [%eval 0.17] } 32. Qf5 { [%eval 0.22] } 32... Rg7 { [%eval 0.2] } 33. e5 { [%eval 0.17] } 33... Qd5 { [%eval 0.13] } 34. Qf6 { [%eval 0.12] } 34... Rh7 { [%eval 0.14] } 35. Qf5 { [%eval 0.2] } 35... Rg7 { [%eval 0.1] } 36. Qf6 { [%eval 0.04] } { = } 36... Rh7 { [%eval 0.08] } 37. Re2 { [%eval 0.0] } 37... Qd1 { [%eval 0.0] } 38. Rfe3 { [%eval 0.0] } 38... Rd2 { [%eval 0.0] } 39. Qf2 { [%eval -0.08] } 39... Rxe2 { [%eval 0.0] } 40. Rxe2 { [%eval -0.05] } 40... Qd5+ { [%eval 0.0] } 41. Kg1 { [%eval -0.04] } 41... Qa5 { [%eval 0.18] } 42. Qf5 $17 { [%eval 0.0] } 42... Qc5+?? { [%eval 4.66] } { Blunder. Rg7 was best. } 43. Rf2 { [%eval 4.55] } 43... Rg7 { [%eval 4.6] } 44. Qc8+ { [%eval 4.46] } 44... Ke7 { [%eval 4.64] } 45. Qxb7+ { [%eval 4.64] } 45... Ke6 { [%eval 4.84] } 46. Qc8+ { [%eval 4.75] } 46... Kxe5?? { [%eval 5.67] } 47. Qf5+ { [%eval 5.73] } 47... Kd6 { [%eval 5.55] } 48. Qf6+ { [%eval 5.85] } 48... Kd7 { [%eval 6.11] } 49. Qxg7 { [%eval 6.42] } { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0

2006-2007: Simon Waters – the centre

Simon is a big old-fashioned centre-forward of a player, who has got the better of me more than once in complications. Lots of elementary errors after his pawn sac.

   [Event "ECC"]  [Site "CRG"]  [Date "2007.04.10"]  [Round "5"]  [White "Waters, Simon R"]  [Black "Regis, D."]  [Result "0-1"]  [UTCDate "2023.10.24"]  [UTCTime "21:26:42"]  [Variant "Standard"]  [ECO "C05"]  [Opening "French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation"]  [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/DrDaveExeter"]   1. e4 { [%eval 0.36] } 1... e6 { [%eval 0.0] } 2. d4 { [%eval 0.3] } 2... d5 { [%eval 0.4] } 3. Nd2 { [%eval 0.17] } 3... Nf6 { [%eval 0.69] } 4. e5 { [%eval 0.39] } 4... Nfd7 { [%eval 0.4] } 5. c3 { [%eval 0.58] } 5... c5 { [%eval 0.36] } 6. f4 { [%eval 0.76] } 6... Nc6 { [%eval 0.33] } 7. Ngf3 { [%eval 0.33] } 7... f6 { [%eval 0.52] } 8. Bd3 { [%eval 0.33] } 8... Qb6 { [%eval 0.27] } 9. exf6 { [%eval 0.01] } 9... Nxf6 { [%eval 0.08] } 10. dxc5 { [%eval -0.07] } 10... Bxc5 { [%eval 0.0] } 11. Qe2 { [%eval 0.0] } 11... O-O { [%eval 0.0] } 12. Nb3 { [%eval 0.0] } 12... Bd6 { [%eval -0.1] } 13. Be3 { [%eval -0.11] } 13... Qc7 { [%eval -0.09] } 14. O-O { [%eval -0.06] } 14... Bxf4 { [%eval -0.03] } 15. Bxf4 { [%eval -0.15] } 15... Qxf4 { [%eval -0.12] } 16. Nfd4 { [%eval -0.33] } 16... Qd6 { [%eval -0.37] } 17. Rae1 { [%eval -0.42] } 17... Bd7?! { [%eval 0.13] } { Inaccuracy. Rf7 was best. } (17... Rf7) 18. Rf3?? { [%eval -1.91] } { Blunder. Nb5 was best. } 18... Rae8 { [%eval -1.53] } 19. Re3?! { [%eval -2.67] } { Inaccuracy. Nxc6 was best. } 19... e5 { [%eval -2.75] } 20. Nf5 { [%eval -2.84] } 20... Bxf5 { [%eval -2.49] } 21. Bxf5 { [%eval -2.37] } 21... Re7 { [%eval -1.96] } 22. Rd1 { [%eval -2.37] } 22... g6 { [%eval -2.12] } 23. Bb1?! { [%eval -3.07] } { Inaccuracy. Bh3 was best. } 23... b6?! { [%eval -1.89] } { Inaccuracy. e4 was best. } 24. Nd2 { [%eval -2.32] } 24... Rfe8?? { [%eval 0.22] } { Blunder. Qc7 was best. } (24... Qc7) 25. Kh1?? { [%eval -2.36] } { Blunder. Ne4 was best. } 25... Kg7? { [%eval -0.87] } { Mistake. Qc7 was best. } 26. Nf1? { [%eval -2.55] } { Mistake. Ne4 was best. } 26... e4 { [%eval -2.47] } 27. Ng3 { [%eval -3.13] } 27... Qe6?! { [%eval -2.3] } { Inaccuracy. Qf4 was best. } 28. h3 { [%eval -2.67] } 28... Qe5 { [%eval -2.37] } 29. Qe1 { [%eval -2.51] } 29... d4? { [%eval -0.99] } { Mistake. Qg5 was best. } 30. cxd4 { [%eval -0.7] } 30... Nxd4 { [%eval -0.92] } 31. Qd2? { [%eval -2.59] } { Mistake. Nxe4 was best. } 31... Nf5 { [%eval -2.5] } 32. Nxf5+ { [%eval -2.54] } 32... gxf5 { [%eval -2.55] } 33. g3?! { [%eval -3.55] } { Inaccuracy. Rde1 was best. } 33... Rd7 { [%eval -3.84] } 34. Qe1 { [%eval -3.68] } 34... Rxd1 { [%eval -3.7] } 35. Qxd1 { [%eval -3.76] } 35... Nd5?! { [%eval -2.53] } { Inaccuracy. Qxb2 was best. } 36. Ra3? { [%eval -4.1] } { Mistake. Re2 was best. } 36... Re7 { [%eval -4.3] } 37. Qh5 { [%eval -4.5] } 37... h6 { [%eval -4.62] } 38. Qe2 { [%eval -4.52] } 38... e3 { [%eval -4.15] } 39. Kh2? { [%eval -4.59] } 39... f4 { [%eval -4.8] } 40. Qd3 { [%eval -6.04] } 40... fxg3+ { [%eval -6.14] } 41. Kg1 { [%eval -7.0] } 41... Qf6 { [%eval -13.83] } { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1

2012-2013: Pablo Medina – the briar patch 2

Pablo’s forthright style made a big impression on us all but chose in this last-round play-off game to avoid any possible preparation by discarding his favourite 1.e4 for 1.d4 and a Dutch. I had to be more familiar with this than Pablo but I didn’t especially outplay him, he just lost his way late in the game.

   [Event "ECC"]  [Site "https://lichess.org/study/9EbPT3cL/UHNZmprv"]  [Date "2013.07.08"]  [Round "7"]  [White "Medina, Pablo"]  [Black "Regis, David"]  [Result "0-1"]  [UTCDate "2023.10.24"]  [UTCTime "21:26:42"]  [Variant "Standard"]  [ECO "A96"]  [Opening "Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Buenos Aires Variation"]  [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/DrDaveExeter"]   1. d4 { [%eval 0.0] } 1... e6 { [%eval 0.44] } 2. c4 { [%eval 0.23] } 2... f5 { [%eval 0.62] } 3. Nc3 { [%eval 0.68] } 3... Nf6 { [%eval 0.48] } 4. g3 { [%eval 0.54] } 4... Be7 { [%eval 0.63] } 5. Nf3 { [%eval 0.49] } 5... O-O { [%eval 0.48] } 6. Bg2 { [%eval 0.58] } 6... d6 { [%eval 0.83] } 7. O-O { [%eval 0.6] } 7... a5 { [%eval 0.83] } 8. Qc2 { [%eval 0.59] } 8... Nc6 { [%eval 0.73] } 9. a3 { [%eval 0.75] } 9... Qe8 { [%eval 1.06] } 10. e4?! { [%eval 0.0] } { Inaccuracy. d5 was best. } 10... fxe4 { [%eval 0.0] } 11. Nxe4 { [%eval 0.0] } 11... Qh5 { [%eval 0.24] } 12. Nxf6+ { [%eval 0.0] } 12... Bxf6 { [%eval 0.0] } 13. d5?! { [%eval -0.63] } { Inaccuracy. Be3 was best. } 13... exd5 { [%eval -0.54] } 14. cxd5 { [%eval -0.67] } 14... Bf5 { [%eval -0.32] } 15. Qc4 { [%eval -0.39] } 15... Ne5 { [%eval -0.37] } 16. Nxe5 { [%eval -0.52] } 16... Bxe5 { [%eval -0.39] } 17. Qxc7 { [%eval -0.41] } 17... Bd3 { [%eval -0.06] } 18. Re1 { [%eval 0.0] } 18... Bd4?! { [%eval 0.81] } { Inaccuracy. b5 was best. } 19. Be3 { [%eval 0.92] } 19... Bxb2 { [%eval 0.75] } 20. Qxd6?! { [%eval -0.06] } { Inaccuracy. Rad1 was best. } 20... Bxa1 { [%eval -0.06] } 21. Rxa1 { [%eval -0.07] } 21... Rae8 { [%eval 0.0] } 22. Qb6 { [%eval -0.18] } 22... Be4 { [%eval -0.3] } 23. Bxe4 { [%eval -0.24] } 23... Rxe4 { [%eval -0.29] } 24. Qxb7 { [%eval -0.09] } 24... Qe2 { [%eval 0.0] } 25. Qb3 { [%eval 0.0] } 25... a4 { [%eval 0.0] } 26. Qc3 { [%eval -0.44] } 26... Rc4 { [%eval -0.58] } 27. Qe5?? { [%eval -3.01] } { Blunder. Qa5 was best. } 27... Qd3?? { [%eval 0.0] } { Blunder. Rxf2 was best. } 28. Qe6+ { [%eval 0.0] } 28... Kh8 { [%eval 0.0] } 29. Bf4 { [%eval -0.24] } 29... Re4 { [%eval 0.0] } 30. Qc6?! { [%eval -0.57] } { Inaccuracy. Be5 was best. } 30... Qd4?! { [%eval 0.0] } { Inaccuracy. h5 was best. } 31. Rc1 { [%eval 0.0] } 31... Rexf4!? { [%eval 0.0] } 32. gxf4 { [%eval 0.0] } 32... Qxf4 { [%eval 0.0] } 33. Qc5 { [%eval 0.0] } 33... Qg4+ { [%eval 0.0] } 34. Kh1 { [%eval 0.0] } 34... Qf3+ { [%eval 0.0] } 35. Kg1 { [%eval 0.0] } 35... Qg4+ { [%eval 0.0] } 36. Kf1 { [%eval 0.0] } 36... Qh3+ { [%eval 0.0] } 37. Ke2?! { [%eval -0.59] } { Inaccuracy. Kg1 was best. } 37... Re8+ { [%eval -0.56] } 38. Kd2 { [%eval -0.62] } 38... Qf3?! { [%eval 0.0] } { Inaccuracy. Qh6+ was best. } 39. Rc3?? { [%eval -6.66] } { Blunder. Re1 was best. } 39... Re2+ { [%eval -6.26] } 40. Kc1?? { [%eval #-1] } { Checkmate is now unavoidable. Kd1 was best. } (40. Kd1 Re3+ 41. Kc2 Qxf2+ 42. Kb1 Re1+ 43. Rc1 Qxc5) 40... Qh1# { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1

2013-2014: Tim Paulden – the briar patch 3

In a rather loud echo of the last game, Tim sought to avoid any of my prep by… playing into my main defensive system, so I always felt comfortable and got on top.

   [Event "ECC Championship"]  [Site "https://lichess.org/study/9EbPT3cL/IKnZlOHz"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "5"]  [White "Paulden, TJ."]  [Black "Regis, D."]  [Result "0-1"]  [Annotator "Regis,Dave"]  [UTCDate "2023.10.24"]  [UTCTime "21:26:42"]  [Variant "Standard"]  [ECO "A91"]  [Opening "Dutch Defense: Classical Variation"]   1. d4 { [%eval 0.0] } 1... e6 { [%eval 0.44] } 2. c4 { [%eval 0.23] } 2... f5 { [%eval 0.62] } 3. g3 { [%eval 0.53] } 3... Nf6 { [%eval 0.78] } 4. Bg2 { [%eval 0.52] } 4... Be7 { [%eval 0.6] } 5. Nc3 { [%eval 0.5] } 5... O-O { [%eval 0.63] } 6. Bg5 { [%eval 0.09] } 6... d6 { [%eval 0.53] } 7. e3 { [%eval 0.09] } 7... a5 { [%eval 0.4] } 8. Nge2 { [%eval 0.4] } 8... Na6 { [%eval 0.66] } 9. O-O { [%eval 0.72] } 9... Qe8 { [%eval 0.74] } 10. f3?! { [%eval 0.18] } { Inaccuracy. Bxf6 was best. } 10... e5!? { [%eval 0.09] } 11. dxe5?! { [%eval -0.87] } { Inaccuracy. Qd2 was best. } 11... dxe5 { [%eval -0.69] } 12. Bxf6 { [%eval -1.15] } 12... Bxf6 { [%eval -1.15] } 13. Nd5 { [%eval -1.5] } 13... Bd8 $17 { [%eval -1.57] } 14. e4?! { [%eval -2.37] } { Inaccuracy. Ndc3 was best. } 14... fxe4 { [%eval -1.95] } 15. fxe4 { [%eval -2.45] } 15... c6 { [%eval -2.38] } 16. Rxf8+ { [%eval -2.42] } 16... Qxf8 { [%eval -2.37] } 17. Ndc3 { [%eval -2.4] } 17... Be6 { [%eval -2.42] } 18. b3 { [%eval -3.09] } 18... Bb6+ { [%eval -2.95] } 19. Kh1 { [%eval -2.95] } 19... Rd8 { [%eval -2.96] } 20. Qf1 { [%eval -3.01] } 20... Qe7?! { [%eval -2.32] } { Inaccuracy. Nb4 was best. } 21. Ng1 { [%eval -2.56] } 21... Nb4 { [%eval -2.49] } 22. Rd1 { [%eval -2.41] } 22... Bd4 { [%eval -2.22] } 23. Nce2 { [%eval -2.43] } 23... Nxa2? { [%eval -1.05] } { Mistake. Rf8 was best. } 24. Nxd4 { [%eval -1.63] } 24... exd4 { [%eval -1.82] } 25. Rd2?! { [%eval -2.82] } { Inaccuracy. Qf2 was best. } 25... Nb4 { [%eval -2.37] } 26. Nf3 { [%eval -2.73] } 26... d3 { [%eval -2.99] } 27. h4 { [%eval -3.34] } 27... a4 { [%eval -3.15] } 28. bxa4 { [%eval -3.19] } 28... Bxc4 { [%eval -3.34] } 29. Ng5 { [%eval -3.37] } 29... Qe5 { [%eval -3.33] } 30. Kh2 { [%eval -3.12] } 30... Na6?! { [%eval -2.28] } { Inaccuracy. h6 was best. } 31. Qc1 { [%eval -2.07] } 31... b5 { [%eval -2.39] } 32. axb5 { [%eval -2.84] } 32... cxb5 { [%eval -2.97] } 33. Bh3?! { [%eval -4.09] } { Inaccuracy. Rd1 was best. } 33... Nc5 { [%eval -4.31] } 34. Qa3 { [%eval -4.08] } 34... Nxe4? { [%eval -2.11] } { Mistake. h6 was best. } 35. Nxe4?? { [%eval -4.69] } { Blunder. Rxd3 was best. } 35... Qxe4 { [%eval -4.91] } 36. Bg2 { [%eval -4.9] } 36... Qe3 { [%eval -5.0] } 37. Qb2 { [%eval -4.9] } 37... Rf8 { [%eval -4.88] } 38. Bc6 { [%eval -4.82] } 38... Rf1 { [%eval -5.29] } 39. Bg2?? { [%eval #-5] } { Checkmate is now unavoidable. Rg2 was best. } 39... Re1? { [%eval -8.67] } { Lost forced checkmate sequence. Qg1+ was best. } 40. Rf2 { [%eval -12.47] } 40... Re2 { [%eval -9.73] } 41. Qxb5? { [%eval #-8] } { Checkmate is now unavoidable. Qa3 was best. } 41... Bxb5 { [%eval #-7] } 42. Bd5+ { [%eval #-7] } 42... Qe6?? { [%eval -6.26] } { Lost forced checkmate sequence. Kh8 was best. } 43. Bxe6+ { [%eval -5.96] } 43... Rxe6 { [%eval -6.43] } { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1

2014-2015: Tim Paulden – A waltz on the clifftop

We both prepped for this — Tim’s favourite at the time was the Nimzo-Larsen, which I believed then and now can be handled with a sensible move order, but I very quickly grabbed a hot pawn and soon regretted it. Yet I found a little wrinkle at the end of a forcing line and Tim followed me down the garden path.

   [Event "ECC CHamps"]  [Site "https://lichess.org/study/9EbPT3cL/lQvrCiA4"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "4"]  [White "Paulden"]  [Black "Regis, D."]  [Result "0-1"]  [UTCDate "2023.10.24"]  [UTCTime "21:26:42"]  [Variant "Standard"]  [ECO "A01"]  [Opening "Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation"]  [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/DrDaveExeter"]   1. b3 { [%eval 0.0] } 1... e5 { [%eval 0.0] } 2. Bb2 { [%eval 0.0] } 2... Nc6 { [%eval 0.0] } 3. e3 { [%eval 0.0] } 3... d6 { [%eval 0.36] } 4. Bb5 { [%eval -0.13] } 4... Bd7 { [%eval -0.04] } 5. d4 { [%eval -0.29] } 5... exd4 { [%eval -0.29] } 6. exd4 { [%eval -0.23] } 6... Qg5 { [%eval -0.12] } 7. Qe2+ { [%eval -0.13] } 7... Nge7 { [%eval -0.03] } 8. Nf3 { [%eval -0.1] } 8... Qxg2?! { [%eval 0.51] } { Inaccuracy. Qh5 was best. } 9. Rg1 { [%eval 0.56] } 9... Qh3 { [%eval 0.66] } 10. d5 { [%eval 0.51] } 10... Nb4 { [%eval 0.57] } (10... Ne5 11. Bxe5 dxe5 12. Nxe5 c6 13. dxc6 bxc6 14. Rg3 Qxh2 15. Qf3 $18) 11. Rg3 { [%eval 0.39] } (11. Ng5 Qf5 12. Bxd7+ Qxd7 13. Nc3 O-O-O 14. O-O-O $16) 11... Qf5 { [%eval 0.23] } 12. Rg5?? { [%eval -3.47] } { Blunder. Bxd7+ was best. } 12... Qxc2 { [%eval -3.65] } 13. Bxd7+ { [%eval -3.48] } 13... Kxd7 { [%eval -3.63] } 14. Qb5+ { [%eval -3.59] } 14... Kd8 { [%eval -3.78] } 15. Bd4?! { [%eval -5.32] } { Inaccuracy. Qxb4 was best. } 15... Nd3+ { [%eval -5.51] } 16. Kf1 { [%eval -5.56] } 16... Qc1+ { [%eval -5.22] } 17. Kg2 { [%eval -5.32] } 17... Ne1+! { [%eval -5.17] } 18. Nxe1 { [%eval -5.15] } 18... Qxg5+ { [%eval -5.11] } 19. Kf1 { [%eval -5.17] } 19... Qxd5 { [%eval -5.19] } 20. Qa4 { [%eval -6.35] } 20... b5 { [%eval -6.14] } { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1

2014-2015: LAURENTZ Hartmann – a tale of two bishops

Laurentz and I both played this Botvinnik system, and on the day he thoroughly outplayed me in the opening and got an equal game at least. I kept a straight face and kept going, and gradually took over the light squares.

   [Event "ECC"]  [Site "https://lichess.org/study/9EbPT3cL/nq73MpAU"]  [Date "2015.01.27"]  [Round "3"]  [White "Regis, D."]  [Black "Hartmann, L."]  [Result "1-0"]  [UTCDate "2023.10.24"]  [UTCTime "21:26:42"]  [Variant "Standard"]  [ECO "A10"]  [Opening "English Opening: Great Snake Variation"]  [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/DrDaveExeter"]   1. c4 { [%eval 0.23] } 1... g6 { [%eval 0.44] } 2. g3 { [%eval 0.11] } 2... Bg7 { [%eval 0.17] } 3. Bg2 { [%eval 0.17] } 3... d6 { [%eval 0.58] } 4. Nc3 { [%eval 0.26] } 4... e5 { [%eval 0.21] } 5. d3 { [%eval 0.14] } 5... f5 { [%eval 0.47] } 6. e4 { [%eval 0.27] } 6... c6 { [%eval 0.58] } 7. Nge2 { [%eval 0.52] } 7... Nf6 { [%eval 0.59] } 8. h3 { [%eval 0.16] } 8... Be6 { [%eval 0.37] } 9. Be3 { [%eval -0.09] } 9... fxe4 { [%eval 0.0] } 10. Nxe4 { [%eval -0.17] } 10... Nxe4 { [%eval -0.15] } 11. Bxe4 { [%eval -0.11] } 11... d5 { [%eval -0.07] } 12. cxd5 { [%eval -0.12] } 12... Bxd5?! { [%eval 0.8] } { Inaccuracy. cxd5 was best. } 13. O-O { [%eval 0.6] } 13... O-O { [%eval 0.74] } 14. Nc3 { [%eval 0.73] } 14... Kh8?! { [%eval 1.88] } { Inaccuracy. Bf7 was best. } 15. Qg4? { [%eval 0.54] } { Mistake. Nxd5 was best. } 15... Na6?! { [%eval 1.18] } { Inaccuracy. Bg8 was best. } 16. Rac1?! { [%eval 0.57] } { Inaccuracy. Nxd5 was best. } 16... Nc7 { [%eval 0.7] } 17. Nxd5 { [%eval 0.77] } 17... Nxd5 { [%eval 0.81] } 18. Bg5 { [%eval 0.76] } 18... Qa5 { [%eval 1.26] } 19. h4 { [%eval 0.79] } 19... Nf6 { [%eval 0.69] } 20. Bxf6 { [%eval 0.67] } 20... Rxf6 { [%eval 0.68] } 21. h5 { [%eval 0.72] } 21... gxh5 { [%eval 1.11] } 22. Qxh5 { [%eval 1.14] } 22... Bh6? { [%eval 2.52] } { Mistake. Rh6 was best. } 23. Rc2?? { [%eval 0.66] } { Blunder. d4 was best. } 23... Rg8?! { [%eval 1.44] } { Inaccuracy. Qxa2 was best. } 24. Kg2 { [%eval 0.99] } 24... Qc7 { [%eval 1.49] } 25. Rh1 { [%eval 1.46] } 25... a5?! { [%eval 2.28] } { Inaccuracy. Qd6 was best. } 26. Rc5 { [%eval 2.01] } 26... Re6?? { [%eval 4.54] } { Blunder. Rgf8 was best. } 27. Qf5? { [%eval 2.5] } { Mistake. Bd5 was best. } 27... Qe7 { [%eval 2.56] } 28. Rxa5 { [%eval 2.4] } 28... Rf8 { [%eval 2.33] } 29. Qh5 { [%eval 2.65] } 29... b6 { [%eval 2.83] } 30. Ra4 { [%eval 2.62] } 30... Ref6 { [%eval 2.79] } 31. f3 { [%eval 2.81] } 31... Rg8 { [%eval 3.5] } 32. Rc4?! { [%eval 2.4] } { Inaccuracy. Ra6 was best. } 32... Rg5?! { [%eval 3.39] } { Inaccuracy. b5 was best. } 33. Qh3?! { [%eval 2.31] } { Inaccuracy. Qh4 was best. } 33... c5? { [%eval 3.85] } { Mistake. Rg7 was best. } 34. b4 { [%eval 3.38] } 34... cxb4 { [%eval 4.06] } 35. Rhc1?! { [%eval 3.09] } { Inaccuracy. Rc8+ was best. } 35... Bf8? { [%eval 5.83] } { Mistake. Qe6 was best. } 36. Rc7 { [%eval 5.87] } 36... Rh6 { [%eval 5.95] } 37. Qxh6 { [%eval 5.86] } 37... Qxc7?? { [%eval #5] } { Checkmate is now unavoidable. Bxh6 was best. } 38. Qxf8+ { [%eval #4] } { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0