Ход королевы

           NowshewasinthemiddleoftheRossolimo-NimzovitchAttack,gettingequalityontheeleventhmovewithpawntoqueenthree.ItwasamoveshehadgoneoverwithBeltik,anditworkedthewayBeltiksaiditwouldwork.

           Bythefourteenthmoveshehadhimontherun,andbythetwentiethitwasdecisive.Heresignedonthetwenty-sixth.Shelookedaroundherattheothergames,allofthemstillinprogress,andfeltbetteraboutthewholething.ItwouldbegoodtobeU.S.Champion.IfshecouldbeatBennyWatts.

           ***

           Shehadasmallprivateroominadormitorywiththebathroomdownthehall.Itwasausterelyfurnished,buttherewasnosenseofanyoneelse’shavinglivedinit,andshelikedthat.Forthefirstseveraldaysshetookhermealsaloneinthecafeteriaandspenttheeveningseitheratthedeskinherroomorinbed,studying.Shehadbroughtasuitcasefullofchessbookswithher.Theywerelinedupneatlyatthebackofthedesk.Shehadalsobroughttranquilizers,justincase,butshedidnotevenopenthebottleduringthefirstweek.Heronegameadaywentsmoothly,andalthoughsomeofthemlastedthreeorfourhoursandweregrueling,shewasneverindangeroflosing.Astimewenton,theotherplayerslookedatherwithmoreandmorerespect.Shefeltserious,professional,sufficient.

           BennyWattswasdoingaswellasshe.ThegameswereprintedupeverynightfromaXeroxinthecollegelibrary,andcopiesweregiventotheplayersandspectators.Shewentoverthemintheeveningsandmornings,playingsomeoutonherboardbutgoingthroughmostoftheminherhead.