Ход королевы

           Shehadonethingtomeetitwith:herqueen.Butwherecouldshesafelyputherqueen?

           Shewasleaninghercheeksonherfistsnow,andhereyesremainedshut.Thequeensatharmlesslyonthebackrank,onthequeenbishopsquare,whereithadsatsincetheninthmove.Itcouldonlygooutbythediagonal,andithadthreesquares.Eachlookedweak.Sheignoredtheweaknessandexaminedthesquaresseparately,endingwithkingknightfive.Ifthequeenwasthere,hecouldswinghisrookunderitandoccupythefilewithatempo.Thatwouldbecatastrophic,unlessshehadacountermove—acheckoranattackontheblackqueen.Butnocheckwaspossibleexceptwithherbishop,andthatwouldbeasacrifice.Hisqueenwouldmerelytakethebishop.Butafterthatshecouldattackthequeenwithherknight.Andwherewouldheputit?Itwouldhavetogoononeofthosetwodarksquares.Shebegantoseesomething.Shecoulddrivethequeenintoaking-queenforkwiththeknight.Hewouldtakeherqueenafterward,andshewouldstillbedownbythatbishop.Butherknightwouldnowbepoisedforanotherfork.Shewouldwinhisbishop.Itwouldbenosacrifice.Theywouldbeequalagain,andherknightcouldgoontothreatentherook.

           Sheopenedhereyes,blinked,andmovedthequeen.Hebroughttherookunderit.Withouthesitationshepickedupherbishop,broughtitoutforthecheck,andwaitedforhisqueentotakeit.Helookedatitanddidnotmove.Foramomentsheheldherbreath.Hadshemissedsomething?Sheclosedhereyesagain,frightened,andlookedattheposition.