Ход королевы

           Infiveminutestheyhadbothdevelopedtheirpieces,andCookestartedanattackonherqueenside.Shedecidedtoignoreitandadvancedaknight.Hehastilypushedapawnup,andshesawwithsurprisethatshecouldnottakethepawnwithoutriskinganastydoubleattack.Shehesitated.Cookewasprettygood.The1500ratingmustmeansomething,afterall.HewasbetterthanMr.ShaibelorMr.Ganz,andhelookedalittlescarywithhisimpatience.Sheslidherrooktothebishop’shomesquare,puttingitbelowtheoncomingpawn.

           Cookesurprisedher.Hepickeduphisqueenbishopandtookoneofthepawnsnexttoherkingwithit,checkingherandsacrificingthepiece.Shestaredattheboard,suddenlyunsureforamoment.Whatwasheupto?Thenshesawit.Ifshetook,hecheckedagainwithaknightandpickedoffabishop.Itwouldwinhimthepawnandbringherkingout.Herstomachwastightforamoment;shedidnotlikebeingsurprised.Ittookheraminutetoseewhattodo.Shemovedthekingoverbutdidnottakethebishop.

           Cookebroughttheknightdownanyway.Bethtradedthepawnsoverontheothersideandopenedthefileforherrook.Cookekeptnaggingherkingwithcomplications.Shecouldseenowthattherewasreallynodangeryetifshedidn’tletitbluffher.Shebroughttherookout,andthendoubledupwithherqueen.Shelikedthatarrangement;itlookedtoherimaginationliketwocannons,linedupandreadytofire.

           Inthreemovesshewasabletofirethem.CookeseemedobsessedwiththemaneuvershewassettingupagainstherkingandblindtowhatBethwasreallydoing.