iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Hey chesspunks! The new league season is upon us here in the UK and I’m going to commit to trying to post more regularly and be more reflective about my games. This position came from my 4NCL Online game this week and it’s a key moment. (See next ⬇️)

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

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?

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

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 🤩

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

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!

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

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...

instagram.com

Instagram

Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

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?

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

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?

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

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

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

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… 🍰 😋

A sunny day with blue sky hangs over a grassy footpath running between open moorland and farm pasture with Great Manstead in Calderdale rising in the distance.

A view over moorland towards the saddleback shape of Great Manstead in Calderdale, Yorkshire, UK

A slice of white chocolate and raspberry cake at Craggies Farm Shop and Cafe in Cragg Vale, Calderdale.

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

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

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

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?

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

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?...

youtu.be

How to tackle the Alapin

YouTube video by PowerPlayChess

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

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?

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

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...

hebdenbridgechessclub.co.uk

Learn French Idiot! » Hebden Bridge Chess Club

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

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?

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

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!?

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

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!

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

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?

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

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

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

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?

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

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.com

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

What's your score? Check it now!

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

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?

A chess board displaying the following FEN position: kr6/1p3p1Q/pRp1p3/P2pPp1p/3P1r1q/3PK3/6P1/1R6 w - - 2 36

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

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?

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

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.

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

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.

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

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!

healthinnovationyh.org.uk

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.

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

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.

Picture shows the mountain Great End taken on the descent from Glaramara in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria, UK

Picture shows the mountain Great Gable taken from the summit of Glaramara in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria, UK

Picture shows the summit of Glaramara from near the foot of the climb by Combe Gill near Rosthwaite, Lake District National Park, Cumbria, UK

Picture a view from the road from Rosthwaite to Seatoller in the Derwent Valley. In the distance the summit of Great End can be seen. Lake District National Park, Cumbria, UK.

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

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

Butterbean bean and winter vegetable hummus hummus and pigs in blankets

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

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. 😜

Chess diagram with the following FEN position: r1br4/pp1q1pkp/5bp1/3P4/5B1P/1B3Q2/P4PP1/1R2R1K1 w - - 11 23

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

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.

A view of the Newlands valley in the Lake District national park, Cumbria, UK

A view of from the top of Cat Bells in the Lake District national park, Cumbria, UK

A view of Derwent Water from the top of Cat Bells in the Lake District national park, Cumbria, UK

A view of Derwent Water in the Lake District national park, Cumbria, UK

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

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.

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

One of the great features here on Bluesky are these starter packs which,if you’re new to the party, are a great way to find your communities and connect. Here’s one for NHS communicators: go.bsky.app/6NfZx5Q

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Took a quick hike up Manshead End from the house this afternoon. The clouds were grey and brooding and then suddenly the sun lit everything up blue and pink and orange. Minutes later it was grey again. Beautiful West Yorkshire! 😍

Looking out over the moor at Manshead End, Calderdale, West Yorkshire.

Trig point at Manshead End in Calderdale, West Yorkshire.

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

Today UK MPs will vote on an assisted dying act. It’s a moral labyrinth and I don’t know where I stand on it. I do know that Yorkshire MP @kimleadbeatermp.bsky.social who brings the bill to the house has lobbied for it thoughtfully and sensitively. It’s a huge decision. apple.news/Au_QsWTIeTgW...

apple.news

Historic vote to legalise assisted dying on a knife edge — The Independent

MPs are weighing up how to vote on a bill that would bring about the biggest social change in Britain in decades

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

For any #chesspunks who (like me) struggled to understand what was going on in Game 3 of the World Chess Championship yesterday, GM Daniel King’s ‘Power Play Chess’ YouTube channel is here to help you. Clear sighted and calm exposition is his style. Highly recommended! youtu.be/Od4uKC3GO7U?...

youtu.be

Gukesh Dommaraju vs Ding Liren | Game 3 | World Chess Championship 2024

YouTube video by PowerPlayChess

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Morning #chesspunks! Here's the key position from my OTB game in the Calderdale League last night. Black has just played 24...Ne5. What is White's best move here? You'll need to provide some supporting analysis to show how you'd meet Black's responses. It's a complicated position so take some time.

Chess board with FEN position: 1r4k1/2q1pp1p/3p2p1/2pPn3/1r1bP3/2N2BnP/RPPQ1PP1/R1B3K1 w - - 13 25

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

After round 1 of the Ding vs Gukesh world chess championship match, who’s your pick to win? 1️⃣ Ding 2️⃣ Gukesh 📊 Show results

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Well #chesspunks! That’s put the cat amongst the pigeons hasn’t it? What are your predictions for the match after round 1 of Ding vs Gukesh?

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

For anyone arriving new to this place and looking for a chess community and chess improvement content this #chesspunks starter pack is a good place to start finding your tribe. go.bsky.app/BaQt1Td

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Lot’s of overnight snow here in Yorkshire followed this morning by high wind and torrential rain so today is definitely a day for hunkering down. Lucky I got company!

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

How often do you find yourself making the mistake of playing for the result you expect #chesspunks? Often when we know we’re better, we coast a little bit and suddenly find that our advantage has slipped away. (1/4)

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

I’ve just spent an interesting morning at the Yorkshire Post Health and Life Sciences Business Breakfast in Leeds. @healthinnovyh.bsky.social were one of the sponsors of this event which was designed to build collaboration and energise growth in one of Yorkshire’s most dynamic sectors. (1/5)

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Evening #chesspunks! Tonight I will be playing for my club, Hebden Bridge, in the top division of the 4NCL Online. It's a national team competition played at 45+15. Quite a generous time limit for online games. (1/2)

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

The first snow of the winter arrived in Calderdale last night. The view this morning was silvery-blue like the full moon and the tree tops dusted white like icing-sugar had been sieved onto them. Beautiful Yorkshire! 🤩

A view of the Calder Valley above Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire with snow cover fields and tree tops.

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Morning #chesspunks! Here’s a nice easy test from one of the two Rapidplay games I had last night in the Calderdale League. I had Black in both games. I faced ubiquitous London System in both games. I lost the first and won the second. In the diagram Black’s next move effectively won the game.

Chess board.
FEN: 3r4/pr1q1kp1/5p1p/3NpP2/n5PR/2P1P3/PP2RP2/1K

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

I noticed that our chums from Chessfeels have amusingly grabbed the @fide.bsky.social and @chesscom.bsky.social usernames🤣 What I really can’t believe is that no one has yet grabbed @elonmusk ! Serious 💩 posting opportunity going begging here no?

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Hey #chesspunks! I promise this is the last snippet I’ll share from my OTB game from Wednesday night in the Leeds league. I managed to reach this endgame position. I’m a pawn up and this should be winning easily. However, we were both very short of time and playing pretty quickly by this point…

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

The chess game I played on Wednesday night was interesting throughout. There's so much to analyse and reflect on, partly because the opening phase was so unusual. Here's another key position. After 10...e6 how would you play here with White #chesspunks? I considered the best move but rejected it.

Chess board and pieces.
FEN: r1bq1b1r/pp3kpp/4pn2/3p1n2/5N2/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQ - 0 11

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Dave Shapland @inter-mezzo.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Well #chesspunks it’s hard to believe this very normal looking position is from the same game I posted earlier today. I’ve got an extra pawn here but it’s not so obvious how white should proceed what with the pressure Black has on g2. How would you assess the position and what’s White’s best move?

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Reposted by Dave Shapland

Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Good morning. Word of the Day is as beautiful as it is underused. ‘Confelicity’ is finding joy in the happiness and success of others.

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