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"I expect you to win a game from me in the very near future," T'Var tells Johnson. "Your skills have improved greatly in a very short period of time."
T'Var looks at the final board positions for a moment. "The only advice I can give you is to try and capture, then maintain, control of the center. You must also ask yourself two questions before making any move."
The doctor points to the current positions of her queen, rook and bishop. "Why did my opponent make that specific move and which move can I make to better my position on the board."
T'Var gives Johnson a reassuring smile. "Position is everything in chess. Gain and command the best positions and you give yourself a good chance to win the game."
The doctor clears the board of the black pieces. "I would be happy to play another game if you'd like. You may choose white or black."
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"I think you're underestimating your own chess skills, but thank you for the advice I'll try to keep it in mind. Another game would be fine, time for me to practice with black."
Johnson helps to set up the board before waiting for T'Var's first move.
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"And thank you for the compliment, Mr. Johnson."
T'Var then makes her opening move....
1. c4
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Johnson looks down at the board and the studying he had done on perhaps a Knight opening or a central pawn, go blithely out the of the window. Perhaps he should have chosen white and practiced against the Sicilian again. No matter - its all good practice, though it might be a shorter match than he hoped for.
1. ...c5
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T'Var considers two possible moves, then decides on:
5. e4
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Johnson ponders a few options before settling on
6. ...d6
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Johnson tries to work out what T'var has planned before accepting.
7. ...cxd4
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Dr. T'Var responds with a capture of her own.
8. Nxd4
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Followed by Johnson's move.
8. ...Nc6
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Johnson nods over the current position before switching king and rook around.
10. ...0-0
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Johnson ponders his next move for a little while and then decides.
11. ...d5
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T'Var scans the board as she decides upon her next move....
12. Rd1
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Johnson returns the favour.
12. ...Ba6
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Johnson look carefully at the board. He thinks he's ahead, but any misstep would allow Dr T'var to take control of the game again.
Two moves look promising, but eventually he settles on one of them, wondering if he can make it work.
16. ...dxc4
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T'Var scans the board. A plan of action forms in her mind. She smiles slightly.
17. a3
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Johnson scans the board. What has he missed, what has he missed? If T'var is smiling, she's found something.
Nervously he moves.
17. ...Qc8
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Johnson looks at the board. That earlier feeling of not doing so baad, had subsided to a dull knot in the pit of his stomach. T'Var's pieces were all neatly deployed and covering each other, whereas his were all scattered across the board, defended but nowhere near as well.
He hadn't felt this stumped since the last time he had to prepare a three course meal from a set of six random ingredients and someone had substituted in Zilm'kach for apricots as a joke. Strangest tasting dessert he'd ever concocted.
He snaps himself back into looking at the board, running over which pieces to move and eventually decides to see what trap the good Doctor has placed for him.
20. ...Rxe1
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T'Var scans the board carefully, then moves....
22. Bg2
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24. ...a5
"Endgame coming up," thinks Johnson, "wonder how much longer I can keep this up..."
