Hikaru Nakamura and Danny Rensch Face the Polygraph

Some tests are just harder and more nerve-inducing than others. After IM Levy Rozman in January, then GM Magnus Carlsen and GM David Howell in April, this month, it was time to submit GM Hikaru Nakamura to the polygraph. And as if he didn't get enough of it with Levy, IM Danny Rensch became the first person to come back for more "Lie Detector Chess."

The results were just as chaotic as before, with no subject too delicate to discuss: career regrets, cheating in chess, drinking before tournament games... whether you'd ever attributed your flatulence to someone else. Before it all, Hikaru would declare, "For me it's very hard to actually lie, so I'm going to try but probably fail miserably." The statement passed the polygraph, but would Hikaru be better at fooling the contraption than he gave himself credit for?

For me it's very hard to actually lie, so I'm going to try but probably fail miserably.

- Hikaru Nakamura

Examiner Orjan Hesjedal, who also monitored the machine with Carlsen and Howell, suspected Hikaru of manipulating his breathing to trick the test. Sure enough, after he was finally unhooked from the "medieval device," as Danny called it, Hikaru admitted he'd gotten away with a few things. But it took a lot of effort—he allowed Danny to get a draw in the ongoing chess game.

As for Danny's turn hooked up to all the wires and whatnot, well, we got some "TMI" related to undergarments, in addition to more serious insights into his thoughts about the popularization of chess, cheating in Titled Tuesday, whether there is an intimidation factor between himself, Hikaru, and Magnus; and more.

To find out exactly what Hikaru and Danny think about these things, or about Levy's chances at becoming a grandmaster, or the likeability of the world's top 10 chess players—well, maybe not exactly what they think—you'll just have to watch. Don't worry, no one will be wiring you up to measure your vitals.

And we're still looking to make more "Lie Detector Chess" videos. Who else would you like to see? Be honest!