Ход королевы

           Hewasresurrectinganoldresponse,butsheknewtheAlbin.Shetookthepawn,glancedbrieflyathisfaceandglancedaway.Heplayedpawntoqueenfive.Hisfacehadbeenimpassiveandnotquiteasfrighteningasshehadfeared.Sheplayedherking’sknightandheplayedhisqueen’s.Thedancewasinprogress.Shefeltsmallandlightweight.Shefeltlikealittlegirl.Buthermindwasclear,andsheknewthemoves.

           Hisseventhmovecameasasurprise,anditwasclearimmediatelythatitwassomethinghehadsavedtospringonher.Shegaveittwentyminutes,penetrateditaswellasshecould,andrespondedwithacompletedeviationfromtheAlbin.Shewasgladtogetoutofitandintotheopen.Theywouldfightitoutfromherewiththeirwits.

           Borgov’swits,itturnedout,wereformidable.Bythefourteenthmovehehadequalityandpossiblyanedge.Shesteeledherself,kepthereyesfromhisface,andplayedthebestchesssheknew,developingherpieces,defendingeverywhere,watchingeveryopportunityforanopenedfile,acleardiagonal,adoubledpawn,apotentialforkorpinorhurdleorskewer.Thistimeshesawthewholeboardinhermindandcaughteverychangeofbalanceinthepowerthatshiftedoveritssurface.Eachparticleofitwasneutralizedbyitscounter-particle,buteachwasreadytodischargeitselfifallowedandbreakthestructureopen.Ifshelethisrookout,itwouldtearherapart.Ifheallowedherqueentomovetothebishopfile,hisking’sprotectionwouldtopple.Shemustnotpermithisbishoptocheck.Hecouldnotallowhertoraisetherookpawn.