Ход королевы
Chapter 1
“Thisone.”
Heopenedit.Theblackpawnlayinhispalm.“Sorry,”hesaid,smiling.Hissmilemadeheruncomfortable.
TheboardalreadyhadBlackfacingBeth.Mr.Ganzputthepawnsbackontheirsquares,movedpawntokingfour,andBethrelaxed.ShehadlearnedeverylineoftheSicilianfromherbook.Sheplayedthequeenbishop’spawntoitsfourthsquare.Whenhebroughttheknightout,shedecidedtousetheNajdorf.
ButMr.Ganzwasabittoosmartforthat.HewasabetterplayerthanMr.Shaibel.Still,sheknewafterahalfdozenmovesthathewouldbeeasytobeat,andsheproceededtodoso,calmlyandmercilessly,forcinghimtoresignaftertwenty-threemoves.
Heplacedhiskingonitssideontheboard.“Youcertainlyknowthegame,younglady.Doyouhaveateamhere?”
Shelookedathimuncomprehendingly.
“Theothergirls.Dotheyhaveachessclub?”
“No.”
“Thenwheredoyouplay?”
“Downhere.”
“Mr.ShaibelsaidyouplayedafewgameseverySunday.Whatdoyoudoinbetween?”
“Nothing.”
“Buthowdoyoukeepup?”
Shedidnotwanttotellhimaboutplayingchessinhermindinclassandinbedatnight.Todistracthimshesaid,“Doyouwanttoplayanother?”
Helaughed.“Allright.It’syourturntoplayWhite.”
Shebeathimevenmorehandily,usingtheRétiOpening.Thebookhadcalledita“hypermodern”system;shelikedthewayitusedherking’sbishop.Aftertwentymovesshestoppedhimtopointoutherupcomingmateinthree.Ittookhimhalfaminutetoseeit.Heshookhisheadindisbeliefandtoppledhisking.
