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Playing Chess In Russia The Agony Of Victory
ussians have a thing for apparently made some moves that
chess and, frankly, are were questionable. He explained
very good at it. Being from why he was making particular
San Diego, I thought chess was moves and the resulting
something you put photo albums implications for my king. The
in. game proceeded slowly while he
explained strategies to his
Playing Chess inattentive student. Then the
magic moment occurred.
Playing chess requires thinking
ten or twelve steps ahead. If I I imagine every teacher suffers
wanted to understand the Russian from the occasional embarrassment
mind, I had to learn to play of being outdone by a student. I
chess. If nothing else, it would like to call it beginner's luck
be a good way to pass the time. and invoke the empirical evidence
This I was told by Robert, an at horse racing tracks and Las
American living in the same town Vegas casinos. If you're a first
as me. timer, you will always win. It
doesn't matter if you're betting
I wasn't particularly excited on a horse because of the color
about learning, but gave in one scheme or hitting on black jack
day after growing tired of while already holding 19 in your
staring out the window. I had hand. It just happens.
seen the movie, "Searching for
Bobby Fisher". What more could I With our chess game, Robert had
possibly need? How hard could it made a particular move and was in
be? the process of explaining it. I
sat staring at the board and
After beginning the game, Robert thinking deep thoughts, which is
took pity on me after I to say I was wondering what was
for dinner, etc. Just then, I gloating. People would start
noticed something on the board, showing up at my apartment with
moved my rook and declared, chessboards and, of course,
"Checkmate!" vodka. The games were so
laughably one-sided it was
Robert stared at the board. Then ridiculous. Typically, I would
he started laughing. Then he make two moves and then hear
wanted to play again. Being a "Sah!" which I believe meant
good sport, I immediately "check!" in Russian.
announced my retirement as a
chess player. My humiliation occurred more or
less every day for roughly a
Unfortunately, I couldn't leave month. Some of the victorious
my victory alone and gloated to a would even come back for a second
few people about it. Make no pounding. Finally, I had to take
mistake, Robert would beat me a the dramatic step of refusing to
million times if we played a answer the door.
million games, but you have to
live in the moment! In the end, I set the game of
chess back a few hundred years
Within a few days, karma struck and Robert had his vengeance.
and I began to pay for my
About the Author:
Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of writing journals. Travel journals are great travel accessories and travel gifts for student travel, family vacations and adventure travel. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com for more travel articles.
Source: www.isnare.com
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