Ход королевы

           Shecouldprotectbyretreatingherknightandmovingoneofherrooksover,buttheprotectionwouldn’tlast,because—shesawnowwithhorror—hisinnocent-lookingknightwouldblockherking’sescape.Itwasterrible.Itwasthekindofthingshedidtootherpeople.ItwasthekindofthingPaulMorphyhaddone.Andshehadbeenthinkingaboutdoubledpawns.

           Shedidn’thavetotakethequeen.Whatwouldhappenifshedidn’t?Shewouldlosethepawnhehadjusttaken.Hisqueenwouldsitthereinthecenteroftheboard.Worse,itcouldcomeovertoherkingrookfileandpressdownonhercastledking.Themoreshelooked,theworseitbecame.Andithadcaughthercompletelyoff-guard.Sheputherelbowsonthetableandstaredattheposition.Sheneededacounterthreat,amovethatwouldstophiminhistracks.

           Therewasn’tany.Shespentahalf-hourstudyingtheboardandfoundonlythatBenny’smovewasevensounderthanshehadthought.

           Maybeshecouldtradeherwayoutofitifheattackedtooquickly.Shefoundarookmoveandmadeit.Ifhewouldjustbringthequeenovernow,therewouldbeachancetotrade.

           Hedidn’t.Hedevelopedhisotherbishop.Shebroughttherookuptothesecondrank.Thenheswungthequeenover,threateningmateinthree.Shehadtorespondbyretreatingherknightintothecorner.Hekeptattacking,andwithimpotentdismay,shesawalostgamegraduallybecomemanifest.Whenhetookherkingbishoppawnwithhisbishop,sacrificingit,itwasover,andsheknewitwasover.Therewasnothingtodo.