Ход королевы

           Sheknew,movebymove,eightgamesinwhichBorgovhadplayedthisvariation,hadgoneovereachofthemwithBenny,analyzingeachremorselessly.Hestartedthevariationwithpawntokingfouronthesixthmove;sheplayedknighttoknightthreewiththecertaintythatcamefromknowingshewasright,andthenlookedacrosstheboardathim.Hewasleaningacheekagainstafist,lookingdownattheboardlikeanyotherchessplayer.Borgovwasstrong,imperturbableandwily,buttherewasnosorceryinhisplay.Heputhisbishoponkingtwowithoutlookingather.Shecastled.Hecastled.Shelookedaroundherselfatthebright,beautifullyfurnishedroomshewasinwithitstwoothergamesofchessquietlyinprogress.

           Bythefifteenthmoveshebegantoseecombinationsopeninguponbothsides,andbythetwentiethshewasstartledbyherownclarity.Hermindmovedwithease,pickingitswaydelicatelyamongthecombinationofmoves.Shebegantopressurehimalongthequeenbishopfile,threateningadoubleattack.Heside-steppedthis,andshestrengthenedhercenterpawns.Herpositionopenedmoreandmore,andthepossibilitiesforattackincreased,althoughBorgovseemedtoside-stepthemjustintime.Sheknewthismighthappenanditdidnotdismayher;shefeltinherselfaninexhaustibleabilitytofindstrong,threateningmoves.Shehadneverplayedbetter.Shewouldforcehimbyaseriesofthreatstocompromisehisposition,andthenshewouldmountthreatsthatweredoubleandtripleandthathewouldnotbeabletoavoid.