Well, no one seemed to get any new hobbies this week and continued to keep me busy inputting your chesscapades. In fairness, my earlier recommendation of Scythe does work over video chat, but it's slower than an over the board game at the 4NCL.
But hey, we've got the time at the moment.
I successfully tempered some chocolate but then ate it too quickly to take a picture, so have some more film recreations (click to reveal the answer):
You would not believe how hard this was to achieve.
Inception
**
Downend 1 3.5 - 0.5 Schach Attack**
Young, Daniel vs Burrows, Nick
Young Daniel returned to us to show off more prep bombs. In a cheeky French, white plonked a knight on b5 and threatened to take the d6 outpost, while snapping it off would stunt all of black's counterplay. Trick after trick was attempted until the check was made after which black quickly lost a trapped bishop. Or rook. It was good for white.
MacQueen, Stuart vs Meadows, Michael
In contrast to Daniel's prep, mine involved vaguely remembering a BCT article about the Chigorin Defence. While a draw offer was hinted at by my knight shuffling, white went all in under time pressure and the strong attack proved to leave a weak defence.
I won a game so it's party time!
Pulp Fiction
Thompson, Robert vs Alizada, Eldar
Rob made it to move 6 before an inaccuracy this time. Despite Stockfish's remonstrations white was actually marginally ahead the whole way through with good bishop against bad. Unforunately, the swaps eased the pressure and an opposite coloured bishop endgame was thoroughly explored before a draw was agreed.
Moyse, Nigel vs Conterno, Dominique
Dominique and Nigel took their time setting up the typical King's Indian game going via a London, but once the f-file was opened and white had fatally weak light squares, Dominique took full advantage of an indefensible pin. While it looks like a rook for two bishops, white saw that the position was actually collapsing and resigned.
** The Rook1Es 2.5 - 1.5 The Full Ponty**
Hosdurga, Chirag vs Fletcher, John
Black played with aggression and a complete lack of regard for their pawn structure, development and their c8-bishop. While the wave was spectacular as it crashed against Chirag's position, it quickly dissipated and white invaded with serious advantage and won a loose rook.
Oli held on against the white onslaught in the opening and middlegame despite the kingside rook not getting involved, but the endgame reached had weak black pawns and white managed to play with good accuracy to convert the full point.
Black played a Philidor. Max played aggressively going for the extra-dynamic isolated king's pawn, but a Philidor is always going to be an unfulfilling evening for white. There were some hairy moments in the endgame, but it look like white always had it under control.
This was a quintessential "d4"-looking game. I'm sure it was interesting to those who understand those sorts of things, but the e4-player within only really understands once Ian snapped off some pieces with some lovely invading tactics.
I did far more embarrassing things in the name of procrastination.