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The Great Pawn Hunter
Chess Tutorial

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Out from the mist, atop the famous hill, appeared the Great Pawn Hunter. Eager for glory, with the appetite of a man eating lion, no ...ten lions, the Great Pawn Hunter descended on the town of Fehilach.

It is hard to believe it all started this morning. . .

6 a.m. screamed the clock. Time to wake up. This was the morning of the big chess tournament. The Great Pawn Hunter put on a pair of jeans and pulled a wrinkled piece of paper from one of the back pockets. It read:

On the back of this message was scribbled

Take pawns, lots of pawns, all you can eat and more!
The Great Pawn Hunter

Just then, the phone rang. It was the Restless Knight. "Just calling to wake you up," said she. "This stuff about the center," replied the Great Pawn Hunter, "takes all the fun out of chess." "It's difficult to move when all the pieces are there." "I know," said the Restless Knight

The drive to the tournament was fun. The Restless Knight and the Great Pawn Hunter made faces at each other while trying to dodge invisible bullets shot from each others fingertips.

At the tournament, the players were paired. "Pairings are up! for Round #1 Go to your tables and begin playing," said the Tournament Director. The Great Pawn Hunter went to the wall chart and found the first opponent. . .the Talker. As the hunter sat at the board, butterflies danced and wild beasts roared in the hunters stomach.

OK. thought the hunter
1) Push a pawn to the side of the board?
Now there was nothing that could quiet the great beasts.
2) Castle to the center.
The Ocean Swelled.
3) Touch the king a second time.
The clouds rolled in. Oh yeah, don't forget:
4) When in doubt take a pawn.

Everything felt right again!

With a bold thrust the first move was made . . .1) h4.

The Talker was quick in response to copy The Great Pawn Hunter's first move. 1) . . . h5

"Obviously, he must be a very good player, to play so quickly. I wish he would quit talking. I can't concentrate while he's doing that," thought the hunter. "Make your move!" said the talker.
2) Rh3 was The Great Pawn Hunter's reply.
I wish I didn't do that. It's not what my coach told me to do. What did he tell me anyway?
2). . . d6.

Oh yeah, now I remember. Push a pawn to the center!
3)d4 Bxh3

"OOPS I didn't see that.", said The Great Pawn Hunter. Clenching his fist, the talker exclaimed "YESSSS!" and punched a hole in the air. The Great Pawn Hunter staired, in disbelief, as the captured rook was placed on the other side of the table. More losses and still more, a bishop, a knight, and then, gulp, the mighty Queen. To the Great Pawn Hunter, it felt as though the whole world was watching the game.

"OK, I have five minutes on my clock and the Talker has ... has... hey he didn't press the button on his clock yet!"

The Great Pawn Hunter quietly rose, walked over to his friend's table, and launched an invisible bullet from his fingertip at his opponent's flag.

It's good to be king.