The Great Pawn Hunter
Chess Tutorial
Hot Humid air hung heavy over the tables of Castle French Fry. The Great Pawn Hunter and the Restless Knight were, in the heat of battle, playing a chess game. The Great Pawn Hunter played white and the Restless Knight played black:
Now, Restless was smiling a successful smile, after her win, when something caught her attention, in the front of the building. She lifted her eyes and stared out the window. Through the window, Restless could see a chess player cruising his bicycle to a stop. On the spokes of his bicycle was a playing card, the ace of spades. He dismounted his bicycle. The Restless Knight watched the entrance way. The doors to Castle French Fry burst open and the chess player entered, black boots, black jeans, black t-shirt. My friends, if clothes could say villain, this chess player had them in spades.
The Talker walked over to the Restless Knight and said "You know what I'm here for Restless. Give me the answer to the Knight's Tour!" The Talker held out his hand and said "C'mon Restless, hand it over." The Restless Knight reached into her shirt pocket, stretched out her hand, and dropped the answer to the Knight's Tour into the Talker's eager clutches...
How, my friends, could Restless do such a thing as cooperate with a villain. Well, to understand her actions, I must bring you back to the events of the week before when the school had its outing at the bench by the brook. All the students brought their fishing poles, pails and bait. Most were busy trying to land that lunker of a fish except the Great Pawn Hunter, the Restless Knight and Shrubs who were trying to solve the Knight's Tour on a chess set at the picnic bench. The Talker was busy casting from the shore. Well, our chess playing friends had no luck with the chess problem. They tried and tried but to no avail. "I wish Old Maestro was here. He could help us solve the problem," said the Restless Knight. "Girls can't solve the Knight's Tour," shouted the Talker "They don't have it in them."
Well, the Restless Knight shouted back "I can so solve the Knight's Tour." The Talker replied "I'll give you a whole week to solve the problem. If you can't solve it in a week, everyone will know girls can't solve chess problems." The Restless Knight replied back "I'll have it solved. You can bet on it!" The Talker replied "Then swear on it." Restless said "Swear on what, I don't have anything to swear on in the first place." The Talker replied "Then swear on your fishing lure" So, my friends, she did.
Now, the Talker didn't know how to solve the Knight's Tour either. Its secret had always escaped him. This way he would know the answer without even lifting a finger. He had every bit of confidence in the Restless Knight and he was going to use it to his advantage. Yes, my friends, "Plotting and planning is all in a day's work."
It was at this point that the Talker got a bite on his fishing rod. He pulled mightily to set the hook and reeled the fish in. When he pulled it out of the water, it was only a minnow. He launched the fish into the grass behind him. No, my friends, there was not an ounce of compassion in his hollow heart. Restless saw where the minnow landed. She ran over and gently picked it up. However, the poor thing had an injury. So, Restless put the minnow into her pail of water. She took it home and placed it in her fish tank.
Now, every so often, Restless would come over to the tank and spend some time with "Pebbles." She gave this name to the fish because it was always digging up pebbles at the bottom of the tank. It was towards the end of the week that the Restless Knight got desperate. She had no luck, as yet, solving the problem of the Knight's Tour. She didn't notice Pebbles leaping up into the air and splashing back into the water behind her because she was very focussed. However, this didn't last long. Pebbles leaped higher and higher and on the third leap he was air born and sailed out of the tank landing, on the counter top, with a thud. Restless turned around and shouted "NO! PEBBLES!!!"
She picked up poor Pebbles and placed him back into the tank. However, Pebbles sadly went belly up. My friends, when a fish goes belly up, it is not a good sign. But, God shines His love on all creatures. After a second or two, Pebbles righted himself and swam back down to the bottom of the tank. Now, Restless was relieved to say the least. She peered down through the water and happily watched as Pebbles went back to his pebble digging. It was as he was digging she noticed that his pebbles formed a curious pattern. Restless blinked...then...she blinked again. For the pebbles that Pebbles was digging were curiously arranged by the minnow in patterns that resembled her Knight's Tour. She went back to her chess board and discovered that Pebbles had solved the problem Aquatically...and they say fish don't have brains. Well, this one did and it is the honest truth. ...and, yes, I even swear on my fishing lure!
So, the Talker got what he wanted, the answer to the Knight's Tour ...in a fist full of pebbles, and he remained as confused as he always was for he used his naturally gifted talents for deeds that were...against the grain.
As for the answer to the Knight's Tour, well, I won't keep you waiting:
and the Great Pawn Hunter leaves you with this piece of wisdom:
"What's in a ring?"
said the Queen to the King.
"I sweep the whole board
as you sit on the wing
and what do I get
as you sit in your castle:
I am chased by knights
and bishops and pawns
what a hassle!"
"Dear Queen," said the King
who was so very wise
"To me you're a star.
You belong in the skies
not stuck here with me
on the very first row.
I Don't deserve you
But, I love you so.
If you stay here with me,
I'll make you nine stars
to adorn your crown
like Jupiter and Mars
who sit in the heavens
and reflect the sun's light
on your gentle sweet face
that I dream of at night."
Now, the King narrowly escaped
with his head that day
and if there is a lesson,
I know it would say:
"When your Queen is fighting
with you not your foe,
treat her with kindness
don't step on her toe
and one more thing,
as the clock surely ticks,
pile it higher and deeper
throw it strong
so it sticks!"
The Great Pawn Hunter
Copyright © Manus Patrick Fealy 1994-2003
Game
(1) Gunawan,R (2460) - Rogers,I (2475) [A58]
Thessaloniki ol (Men) Thessaloniki (11), 30.11.1984
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