Ход королевы

           Shebroughtouttheotherknightandwaitedforhimtobringouthis.Shewouldpinitwhenhedidandthentakeit,gettingdoubledpawns.Thatqueenbishoppawnmoveofhiswascostinghim,andalthoughtheadvantagewasn’tmuch,itwascertain.

           Buthedidnotbringouttheknight.Insteadhetookhers.Clearlyhedidn’twantthedoubledpawn.Sheletthatsinkinamomentbeforeretaking.Itwasastounding;hewasalreadyonthedefensive.Afewminutesbefore,shehadfeltlikeanamateur,andhereBennyWattshadtriedtoconfuseheronthethirdmoveandhadputhimselfintrouble.

           Theobviousthingwastotakehisknightwithherknightpawn,capturingtowardthecenter.Ifshetooktheotherway,withherqueenpawn,hewouldtradequeens.Thatwouldpreventherfromcastlingandwoulddenyherthequeenshelovedforquickattack.Shereachedherhandouttotaketheknightwiththeknightpawnandthenbroughtitback.Somehowtheideaofopeningthequeenfile,shockingthoughitwas,lookedattractive.Shebegantostudyit.Andgraduallyitbegantomakesense.Withanearlyqueentrade,castlingwouldbeirrelevant.Shecouldbringthekingoutthewayyoudidintheendgame.ShelookedacrossatBennyagainandsawthathewaswonderingwhyshewastakingsolongwiththisroutinerecapture.Somehowhelookedsmallertoher.Whatthehell,shethoughtagainandtookwiththequeenpawn,exposingherqueen.

           Bennydidnothesitate;hetookherqueenwithhisandpunchedtheclocksmartly.Hedidnotevensay“Check.