Pawns

In popular usage, the term "pawn" refers to someone or something that is manipulated or used. A "pawn" is expendable and of little value than to accomplished some limited goal, to push the game forward.

But a chess player will understand that a pawn is really so much more than that. It was Philidor that said "Pawns are the soul of chess." Prior to him chess players thought only to push the pawns forward and eliminate them quickly to allow other peices room to develop.

Philidor believed that pawns, played well, could be just as powerful as the major pieces in chess. Philidor, in his day, became the top chess master in the world. He famously played three chess games blindfolded, simultaneously. In the third match his oppenent even had a handicap. He won all three matches.

"Pawns are the soul of chess."

On my board, pawns are of incredible worth. I couldn't make it without them.

Pawns, demons, coffee, pizza, and a banquet

Today I gathered together some of the students from two different schools and met with them at Dunkin Donuts (black territory) and then for pizza.

It's always an enjoyable evening with the students, but they can get a little out of hand at times. They are going to end up getting me kicked out of Dunkin, I can't afford to lose more territory!

There were at least two pawns present, perhaps up to four. My pawns are getting younger. But in chess, as in life, the game must go on! How can anyone predict who will become a major player in the years to come? I can make guesses and hope, but there is no certainty.

On a totally unrelated note, Deneth, the demon that lives in my laptop, gave me back my novel today. So I can continue working on it. This is a happy day indeed.

Tomorrow one of the schools is having a banquet. As of this moment I am planning on attending, although I am still working out some of the logistics. The sponser of that school is young and pretty Spanish teacher, I'll make every effort to attend! But don't be fooled, I would be more than pleased if a certain photographer were my companion tommorrow night.

Pawns, pawns, pawns. Cross the board!

Positional Analysis- Tampa

So yesterday I went to Tampa with a group of high school and middle school students for a Model United Nations conference. The students did very well, and we left with major victories. Not a chess game, but hey, it's all tactical.

Going to Tampa for something like this clearly moves the king from the first rank. Suddenly, I was among the pawns.

The pawns pulled off a stunning victory, "pawns are the heart of chess" after all. I do also have other friends in the Tampa area. Other pawns. This part of the board is being developed by black.

I don't know white's position here, although I am guessing some of the other school's fell to becoming white pawns after our "pwnage." This puts us into risk of En Passant.

Pride comes before the fall. If these pawns try to move too quickly, a white pawn will be there to take them.

The team did a marvelous job, but can't rest on their laurels. We can't come back to Tampa thinking that we can't be defeated. Take it step by step and develop the board wisely. Keep the larger goal in mind.

And those of you that became my pawns last night, congratulations. Welcome to The Game.

En Passant

Sometimes the best laid plans just go wrong.

Ever feel like you are getting on your feet and just starting to move forward only to find that even such a simple little attempt sets you even further behind?

En Passant occurs when a pawn moves forward two spaces from its starting position, coming to rest in a square beside a pawn of an the opposing color. The enemy pawn may attack diagonally forward into the position that the pawn would have had to move through and legally capture the pawn. En Passant means "In passing" in french. The pawn is captured in passing.

Life is full of these En Passant moments. Despite the best laid plans, something happens in passing to set us back. The best strategic move would have been to not move that pawn at all. Sometimes we just have to wait until the time is right,

Sometimes I need to wait until someone worth being around makes me move. I am content with my bishops, knights, and rooks. There is no queen, but pushing a pawn across the board at this point is suicide, En Passant. Black is not ready for a queen, the field can still be managed and won missing that piece.

Chess is life, life is Chess. And in life, just as in Chess, the game must go on.

The White Queen

I worked for a short time at the airport. One of my favorite people to work with was this cute, short, bubbly little thing. She was always full of energy, lots of fun to work with, kept me laughing most nights.

She was also sneaky and liked to see what she could get away with. Not in a bad way mind you, it was always fun. I played along with mostly everything, there was no reason not to, and it kept things interesting.

She was though, strictly speaking, a competitor.

So I started to refer to her as the White Queen. Again, just fun, but it made the whole Chess is Life thing that much more interesting.

I ran into the White Queen this past Monday at a local bar that I enjoy visitig. The bar is like a high school reunion every week I go and I enjoy the company. The Royal Key Bar is an awesome place.

I was hanging out with the incredible band Day Minus Seven. There were about 8 of us or so ("all things are eight" -Pythagorian Maxim). Which leads me to believe that the White Queen had entered Black territory.

I mean, knowing as many people as I knew at the Royal Key I am cerain it was Black Territory. The White Queen was in a dangerous position. I have to wonder if she was there with anyone other than her hubby. A player on her side may have been transfigured that night. Either way, I had a marvelous time, and I am pretty sure I was changed a bit. I know a couple black pawns cerainly entered the game that night. I can always use the reinforcements, after all, "Pawns are the heart of chess."