Bishop takes Queens Pawn (closed for sharingfantasies and Uggg)

[Uggg]

Bishop takes Queens Pawn
(Closed for Sharingfantasies and Uggg)

The mercury had been steadily sneaking up the scale each day since mid spring and now just a few weeks before summer Doug finally felt comfortable heading for the park without his jumper. Crafty knew what was coming as Doug packed his bag and the over eager little bundle of energy made an absolute nuisance of himself, getting under foot with his shaggy tail wagging almost too fast to follow with the eye.

It was a far cry from the reluctance the wee dog had to going outside during the colder winter months. His tendency to run off meant a leash was required till they had walked the two blocks to the nearest park entrance but once there among the trees he could be let loose to explore as he pleased. It took about five minutes of wandering through pleasant surrounds to reach the little clearing where a paved area with stone tables was the gathering place of an eclectic assortment of local chess players.

“Hey Doug,” and then more enthusiastically, “Geday Crafty! What you got there boy? Oh a stick? What a good boy! What a good dog!”

“Howdy Sam, I think the idea is you throw it.”

“I can’t throw, got a bung shoulder. You chuck it for him, he’s your mutt.”

Doug laughed and took the stick Sam had pried from Crafty’s mouth then hiffed it as far as he could off towards the duck pond before wiping the slobber from his hand onto his trouser leg. Sam watched the enthusiastic little terrier first run after the stick then lose interest in it and chase the ducks instead.

“Feel like a game today Doug?”

“Nah, had a text from Liz she’s on her way down for a game shouldn’t be far away now?”

Sam didn’t push the issue. It was known in their circles that Doug and Liz had a friendly rivalry going back several years and would always play each other if they both had time. Doug didn’t mind playing the other folk that came along to the park if Liz was busy but over the years they had just kind of fallen into a pattern.

He could see her coming now, walking up the path from around the other side and stopping briefly to talk to Crafty. They were fairly evenly matched and while they lived quite different lives they seemed to enjoy each other’s company. Both were mature enough and relaxed enough to just let their unspoken and casual friendship be what it was, there was no pressure in their friendship just rivalry and respect.

Doug sat down at a vacant table and began setting up the board as Sam met Liz.

“Hey Liz.”

“Hi Sam, Hi Doug”

Doug finished setting up the board.

“Howdy Liz, I can’t remember is it your turn for black or white?”

“White this time.”

“That’s right, so it is...”

Doug turned the board 180 degrees careful not to displace the pieces as she took her seat. He looked up and met her gaze for the first time since she’d walked up. She smiled , looking elegant in her sun hat and pearls and looked down at the board before moving her Kings Pawn forward one space.

She always looked lovely and well presented.

“You’re looking lovely today Liz.”

Almost ten years her senior Doug wasn’t flirting, just being polite. He moved his own King’s pawn forward but he moved his two spaces. Now he had options for his second move. Depending on how she moved he could bring either his bishop or queen out into play or if she threatened his pawn by moving hers one more space ahead he could bring out a knight.

She knew all of this of course and chose another tactic, moving the Pawn in front of a Rook forward two spaces. Doug smiled and they engaged in earnest. By about ten moves in neither had gained an advantage although Doug had lost one more Pawn than her in an aborted attempt to tie her queen down.

Crafty must have worn himself out chasing ducks as it wasn’t long after that when he trotted up and plonked down between their feet under the table. The game was building towards a conclusion. Sometimes they battled for hours and other games were over quickly. If a game finished really quickly they may decide to play again.

There was a square on her side of the board that they both knew had become significant. It had one of her Pawns on it but if Doug put gained control of it with either his Bishop or Queen he would have the game. They were both stacking pieces up in positions to strike that spot. It had become a node and as long as she could match the number of potential strikes he could make he wouldn’t have the advantage but he was feeling confident.

Then she got him. It was clever trick. She shifted her rook one place left and suddenly the whole dynamic on the board changed, There was a second node and it was his King in danger. She was two pieces ahead and as he quickly scanned the board he realized there was nothing he could do. He chuckled good naturedly as he toppled his king.

“Very nice set up, I didn’t spot that coming at all. Was it planned or did you just see the opportunity and take it?” He glanced at his watch; it had been a relatively quick game.

“Quarter to three, another game?”

 

[sharingfantasies]

“Very well, another game it is. Your turn to go first.”

She watched as he moved his pawn two spaces forward to D5. She countered by moving her knight to F3. Liz glanced at her watch. As summer came closer the daylight hours were slowly lengthening. She glanced around her noticing the sun was reflecting on the water making it hard to see the coral reef. The park was built along the beach side of the main road that circled the island. There was a low stone wall separating the park from the sandy beach. She could see a couple of sunbathers laying out on their towels and down at the water's edge were two children laughing as they played tag with the small waves.

She hadn't known she would come to love living here when she and Jack had first visited the island. She had known that she liked the slower pace of life, but it was a complete surprise when Jack had presented her with the deed to a small plantation style house here on the island of Bequia for their fifth anniversary. They had come down two to three times a year and stayed for two weeks each time. After Jack's death, she had sold the house on Alamo Square in San Francisco. She had loved the Victorian row house, but it was too large for one person living alone. Here, the house was filled with memories of Jack laughing and enjoying life.

She looked down at the board, while her mind had wandered, moves had been made. Now her king was in serious trouble. She moved her rook in front of the king to block Doug's bishop.

She enjoyed meeting Doug twice a week to play chess. She wasn't a great player, but she managed to keep up with him sometimes. She wondered if he spent every day sitting here under the pavillion where the breeze was gentle enough to keep a person cool. but not strong enough to knock over the stone carved pieces. She wondered who had thought of the idea of setting up the five chess tables and how it was that the pieces never wandered away in someone's pocket. It was a popular place, usually two or three tables were occupied, but it was also a quiet place with only an occasional murmured voice. She smiled briefly as Crafty snorted in his sleep.

A deft move of her bishop now put Doug's king in danger and she wondered what his move would be. He had a few choices, she doubted he would make the one move that would give her checkmate, but you could never tell.