Ход королевы
Chapter 1
Sheunderstoodwellenoughthatapersonlikestokeephissecrets.Shekepthers.Nevertheless,shewantedtoleanacrosstheboardandslaphisfaceandmakehimtellher.Shesuckedinherbreath.“IsthattheSicilianDefense?”
Heseemedrelievedthatshehaddroppedthesubjectofthenamesofthesquares.“There’smore,”hesaid.Hewentonwithit,showingherthebasicmovesandsomevariations.Buthedidnotusethenamesofthesquares.HeshowedhertheLevenfishVariationandtheNajdorfVariationandtoldhertogooverthem.Shedid,withoutasinglemistake.
Butwhentheyplayedarealgameafterward,hepushedhisqueen’spawnforward,andshecouldseeimmediatelythatwhathehadjusttaughtherwasuselessinthissituation.Sheglaredathimacrosstheboard,feelingthatifshehadhadaknife,shecouldhavestabbedhimwithit.Thenshelookedbacktotheboardandmovedherownqueen’spawnforward,determinedtobeathim.
Hemovedthepawnnexttohisqueen’spawn,theoneinfrontofthebishop.Heoftendidthis.“Isthatoneofthosethings?LiketheSicilianDefense?”sheasked.
“Openings.”Hedidnotlookather;hewaswatchingtheboard.
“Isit?”
Heshrugged.“TheQueen’sGambit.”
Shefeltbetter.Shehadlearnedsomethingmorefromhim.Shedecidednottotaketheofferedpawn,toleavethetensionontheboard.Shelikeditlikethat.Shelikedthepowerofthepieces,exertedalongfilesanddiagonals.Inthemiddleofthegame,whenpieceswereeverywhere,theforcescrisscrossingtheboardthrilledher.
