Ход королевы

           Sheknewinpartofherselfthatitwasn’t,thatinMexicoCityshehadoverwhelmedastringofprofessionalsbeforewiltinginthegamewithBorgov,thatshehadbeatengrandmasteraftergrandmasterinthistournament,thatevenwhenshehadbeenplayingthejanitoratMethuenHomeasaneight-year-oldshehadplayedwithasoliditythatwasaltogetherremarkable,altogetherprofessional.Yetshefeltnow,howeverillogically,inexperienced.

           Bennythoughtforseveralminutesandmadeanunusualmove.Insteadofplayingthequeenpawn,hepushedthequeenbishoppawntothefourthrank.Itsatthere,facingherqueenbishoppawn,unsupported.Shelookedatitforaminute,wonderingwhathehadinmind.HemightbegoingfortheMaróczyBind,butdoingitoutofthenormalsequence.Itwasnew—somethingprobablyplannedespeciallyforthisgame.Shesuddenlyfeltembarrassed,awarethatalthoughshehadgonethroughBenny’sgamebook,shehadpreparednothingspecialfortodayandhadapproacheditasshealwaysapproachedchess,readytoplaybyintuitionandattack.

           AndthenshebegantoseethattherewasnothingsinisteraboutBenny’smove,nothingshecouldnothandle.Itbecamecleartoherthatshedidnothavetoplayintoit.Shecoulddeclinetheinvitation.Ifsheplayedherknighttoqueenbishopthree,hismovemightbewasted.Maybehewasonlyfishingforaquickadvantage—asthoughplayingspeedchess.Shebroughtherknightout.Whatthehell,asAlmaWheatleywouldsay.

           Bennyplayedpawntoqueenfour;shetookthepawn,andheretookwithhisknight.