Chapter 4

           Attheentrancetothegymadeskhadbeensetup,andtwomeninwhiteshirtsweresittingbehindit.Behindthemwererowsoflongtableswithgreen-and-whitechessboards.Theroomwasfullofpeopletalkingandafewplaying;mostofthemwereyoungmenorboys.Bethsawonewomanandnocoloredpeople.PinnedtothedesknearthemanontheleftwasasignthatreadENTRYFEESHERE.Bethwalkeduptohimwithherfivedollars.

           “Doyouhaveaclock?”themanasked.

           “No.”

           “Wehaveaclock-sharingsystem,”hesaid.“Ifyouropponentdoesn’thaveone,comebacktothedesk.Playstartsintwentyminutes.What’syourrating?”

           “Idon’thavearating.”

           “Haveyoueverplayedinatournamentbefore?”

           “No.”

           ThemanpointedtoBeth’smoney.“Areyousureyouwanttodothis?”

           “I’msure.”

           “Wedon’thaveawoman’ssection,”hesaid.

           Shejuststaredathim.

           “I’llputyouinBeginners,”hesaid.

           “No,”Bethsaid,“I’mnotabeginner.”

           Theotheryoungmanhadbeenwatchingthem.“Ifyou’reanunratedplayer,yougoinBeginnerswiththepeopleundersixteenhundred,”hesaid.

           BethhadpaidlittleattentiontoratingsinChessReview,butsheknewthatmastershadatleast2200.“What’stheprizeforBeginners?”shesaid.

           “Twenty.”

           “Whatabouttheothersection?”

           “FirstprizeintheOpenisonehundred.”

           “IsitagainstanyruleformetobeintheOpen?”

           Heshookhishead.“Notarule,exactly,but—”

           “Thenputmeinit.”Bethheldoutthebills.

           ThemanshruggedandgaveBethacardtofillout.