Not an Easy Win

I got my morning chores and schoolwork done at lightning speed so I could get to the boards–maybe one day I’d need to know about misplaced modifiers, but right now I was just glad to get my class assignments checked off. Mr. Dennis and Junior played a couple games against each other while I practiced moves by myself. I went over all the possible combinations from my last game with Junior, and I worked out three options for my starting move and for what Mr. Dennis called a counterattack.

He’d also taught me to think about the game in three parts: the opening, the middle game, and the endgame. The opening is really about the first combo of moves, feeling out your opponent, and trying to control the center. In the middle game, the battle starts. It’s all about attacking and defending. It’s where the most action happens. The endgame is when most of the pieces are captured and it’s time to figure out how to get the win. It’s also when the king becomes a fighting piece.

I was already back in the chess room when the kids loaded in. My stomach was tied in knots, and beads of sweat lined my face, but I was ready. I picked a seat in my favorite corner and waited for my chance.

Duece was in a much better mood today–at least I thought he was; he didn’t scowl at me like he had last week. He and Lin picked seats in the middle of the room, and Twyla and Kendra shared a seat near the door. When everyone was there, Mr. Dennis got us to quiet down and told us today was free day at the tables. Anyone who wanted to play could.

I wondered if Mr. Dennis had made it a free day to give me a shot at the board. Yeah, he definitely had. I wouldn’t let him down. Jada and Shayla ran to the first table. Their games seemed more fun than competitive, but Jada always won–she had game.

It was time to test my skills.