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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
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THE CHESS GAME
The ferry ride between San Juan Island and Anacortes, Washington can be monotonous for those making the 65- to 80-minute trek. That's why so many ferry passengers read newspapers and books or play cards and board games to pass the time. So when I saw the young son of a friend on the ferry with his chess set, I offered to play. I understand the basic rules of chess and can evaluate various moves, but I've never been inclined to master the game. Perhaps it is a character flaw, but I prefer faster moving games that require far less mental maneuvering. Therefore, I thought that this young child and I might be somewhat evenly matched in our ability and motivation. What I underestimated, however, was the child's enthusiasm over the possibility of beating an adult. Like many amateur chess players, he was focused on capturing all my pieces rather than on creating a strategy for putting me in check. He threatened to use his "special force field" when I was able to capture his queen, and reminded me several times that he had already beaten his older brother and his mother on this very ferry crossing. Meanwhile I was carrying out some typical chess strategies as I tried to guess what he might do next. The only problem with this tactic was that his moves were totally unpredictable. His goals were not the same as mine. Many times he would catch me off guard because he was attempting to capture my pawns rather than trying to check my king. Finally, left with only one pawn, one bishop and my king, I became easy prey for a checkmate. My opponent was thrilled, and beamed from ear to ear as he reminded me that he had now defeated his older brother, his mother, and another adult. At that moment, he was invincible.
© 2003 David Bentley David Bentley, M.Ed. & Personal Coach, coaches clients through the game of life, helping them find balance, clarity of direction, and purpose in an ever-changing world. You may contact him at 360.378.8436 by e-mail at david@coachbentley.com or visit his Web site: www.coachbentley.com |
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