Ход королевы
Chapter 8
Itwasascomplex,asthoroughlyanalyzed,astheSicilian,andthereweredozensoflinesshehardlyknew,exceptformemorizingthemfrombooks.
Someoneflashedanotherbulbforapictureandsheheardthetournamentdirector’sangrywhispernottodisturbtheplayers.Shepushedherpawnuptorookthree,attackingthebishop.Borgovpulleditbacktorookfour.Sheforcedherselftoconcentrate,broughtoutherotherknight,andBorgovcastled.Allthiswasfamiliar,butitwasnorelief.Shenowhadtodecidetoplayeithertheopenvariationortheclosed.SheglancedupatBorgov’sfaceandthenbackattheboard.Shetookhispawnwithherknight,startingtheopen.Heplayedpawntoqueenfour,assheknewhewould,andsheplayedpawntoqueenknightfourbecauseshehadto,soshewouldbereadywhenhemovedtherook.Thechandelieroverheadwastoobright.Andnowshebegantofeeldismay,asthoughtherestofthegamewereinevitable—asthoughshewerelockedintosomechoreographyoffeintsandcounterthreatsinwhichitwasafixednecessitythatshelose,likeagamefromoneofthebookswhereyouknewtheoutcomeandplayeditonlytoseehowithappened.
Sheshookherheadtoclearit.Thegamehadnotgonethatfar.TheywerestillplayingouttiredoldmovesandtheonlyadvantageWhitehadwastheadvantageWhitealwayshad—thefirstmove.Someonehadsaidthatwhencomputersreallylearnedtoplaychessandplayedagainstoneanother,Whitewouldalwayswinbecauseofthefirstmove.Liketick-tack-toe.Butithadn’tcometothat.Shewasnotplayingaperfectmachine.
