Chess Article (yay)

Chess is a very long-lasting game with thousands if not millions of

incredible clutch plays, friendly matches, and intense world champion
showdowns, but most of the games that aren't played by world champions are
overlooked even though they have the same amount of potential and potency
as the ones that debut on television or make the local paper.
Today we will be looking at a couple very underrated chess plays that
deserved more attention than they got. Wigalloo wight
One of the most remarkable games we’ll be looking at is the renowned
Alexander McDonnell VS. Louis-Charles Mahé de La Bourdonnais game. It’s
probably the most popular one we’ll be looking at so strap in your seatbelts
and do not touch a stingray in Ocean Park.
McDonnell starts with a simple king’s pawn opening and Labourdonnais
immediately stabs back with a Sicillian. The two players are locked in a fierce
stare as the games commence. The audience holds their breath in the
surrounding velvety red chairs around the mahogany stage as classical jazz
music plays softly through the speakers. McDonnell’s brain immediately starts
to calculate the million possibilities that could play through, seeking the best
ones. He taps his brown leather shoes on the wooden floor, his brain numbing
with all the reasoning he’s doing.
Meanwhile, Labourdonnais (let’s just call him Lab)’s eyes darted around
the board, although only two moves have been made. His brain saw all the
possible moves McDonnell could do after this. Soon, McDonnells’ hand
stealthily moves towards his G1 knight and backs up his pawn at the center of
the board. Without thinking, Lab does the same except with the opposing
knight. Yet again, the two masterminds were stuck in deep concentration as
they considered what process they should execute to get a final result in their
favour.
McDonnell furrowed his brow as he reached for his D2 pawn and
moved it right next to his E2 pawn. Lab bit his lip. Never before had he seen
this stunt before. “Oh well, it’s fine,” he thought to console himself. “I’ll still win.
As Diddly Daddy always said, confidence is key.” He took the pawn
McDonnell had just move ｄ　（ｌｅｔ＇ｓ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｃａｌｌ　ＭｃＤｏ
ｎｎｅｌ　Ｄｏｎ　ｆｏｒ　ｎｏｗ）. I don’t know why the font suddenly
changed but who cares.
Anyway, Don chewed the side of his mouth, in turn accidentally
swallowing the strawberry flavored gum he’d bought at the sketchy candy
shop next to the auditorium he was playing in at this moment. ‘Damn it,’ he
whispered to himself, though it was obvious Lab had heard and was now
smiling smugly to himself, getting the wrong idea.
 Don quickly moved his knight and took the pawn, already expecting
Lab’s pawn-take-pawn move. He expected Lab to fight back and use his
knight to take Don’s knight but instead surprised Don with an E7 move
diagonal to his knight, so if Don didn’t move his knight on that move it would
get eaten.
Lab thought he would win. ‘Diddly Daddy and Middly Mommy were
right! I knew all those bedtime stories about princesses they told me at night
would pay off!’ Lab winced knowing he still needed his parents to tell him
bedtime stories when he was in his twenties. He took a cigarette out of his
pocket and smoked carelessly, thinking of all the money his friends would owe
him after they lost the bet that he’d lose drastically.
Don’s heart leaped into his throat, and he could literally swear he was
having a heart attack at the moment. With one last swipe of his D4 knight,
moving it to C6, he silently prayed that he’d win. His mother, father, brother,
and cousins were all watching in the crowd, their faces indistinguishable
between the sea of heads bobbing up and down, nodding and clapping
politely at his showoff occasionally. But as Don opened his eyes after praying,
he found the Lab had once again exchanged a move of killing off the knight he
just moved. He didn’t know how, but Don found this symbolism for later
paragraphs extremely attractive.
After exchanging a few blows, mistakes, book moves, and blunders,
Don and Lab were in the final lockdown of every chess game: The Endgame.
No, not the Marvel movie, the endgame is the end of each chess game where
only a few pieces are left on the board. Now, getting out of the monologue,
let’s catch up with our friends, Don and Lab.
Lab was sweating furiously. A single bead of sweat trickled down his
forehead and onto his white collared shirt and dark gray suit, and he was
starting to get nervous. Would he be able to win this game after all? He tore
his eyes from the black and white squares which were all too familiar to him
and gazed right into Don’s warm brown eyes. His finely trimmed beard and
neat tuxedo made Lab even more anxious to impress him. He needed to show
Don that he was worth it. That this wasn’t all just a waste of time.
Lab was actually close to promoting two different pawns. He
remembered and diverted his gaze back to the board, where he proceeded to
see Don’s white queen easily take his third pawn which was blocked from
promoting by his rook. Lab grunted nonchalantly and moved his F2 pawn onto
the last square, promoting to a queen. Don closed his eyes for a moment and
took a deep breath. Lab was surely going to win, so he didn’t know why he
looked so nervous. He also seemed to be blushing, but Don didn’t know why.
He was in quite the sticky situation at the moment, legs twitching on his chair,
furiously holding in a fart. He seriously needed to go to the bathroom, he was
afraid he’d wet his newly dry cleaned brown pants.
Anyway, Don was decisive enough to play rook take queen but was too
late for Lab’s new move of pawn take rook. ‘I guess it’s worth it,’ he thought.
But his fate was yet to be decided. A minute had passed of just Lab thinking.
Then with a face of surrender, he used his right index finger and knocked over
his king. He had resigned, the old-fashioned way. He stood up, chair scraping
on the floor and possibly creating some permanent lines, and held out his
hand in good sportsmanship, like the amazing man he was. ‘I resign,’ he
simply said.
Time seemed to slow down. ‘That was it? Certainly underwhelming…’
he thought, but as he started to stand up he fought the irresistible urge to try
to persuade him to keep playing. But he had spoken, the judges had written
down their scores, and everything else in the world seemed to have frozen.
He stared at Lab’s empty hand, sticking out so freely, as if the rest of
the world wasn’t watching. Lab was perfect.
Finally, Don zoned back in and took Lab’s hand, suddenly feeling warm
all over as if he were literally sitting inside a heater. ‘G-good game,’ he
stuttered, voice cracking and hand shuddering.
Lab smiled politely and nodded. They quickly let go.
The judge at the table who had been sleeping for most of the game
finally woke up and hit the buzzer. ‘Okay, that’s it!’ he announced into the
microphone. ‘Labourdonnais has resigned!’
A boo resonated from the crowd, along with a couple of cheers. Overall,
mixed emotions were sense and Don couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming
sense of embarrassment. To know that he hadn’t actually won through skill
and training, but that his opponent had just given up so easily, even when he
still had a team.
Backstage, Don changed out of his fancy tux and into a gray flannel
shirt and jeans. Finally, he went to use the toilet and met Lab outside the
auditorium outside his parked white cadillac. Lab was still wearing his dress
clothes.
‘So,’ Don started, trying to sound casual, but voice cracking yet again
midway. ‘Nice game, I guess.’ He thought he sounded a bit angry near the
end. Lab looked hurt, but also really flustered like the thought of Don talking to
him was a one-in-a-lifetime chance. He nodded curtly and gestured towards
the shotgun seat of the car.
Don raised an eyebrow, suggesting, ‘Why?’
Lab smiled and replied, ‘You won. I thought I’d serve you a treat. I
booked reservations at WrigglyChig.’
 Don immediately got in. After all, he couldn’t say no to WrigglyChig. It
was one of the most famous Italian cuisines in the country and it was
especially hard to book reservations. Lab had probably only got in because he
was one of the best chess players in Europe.
Lab drove on the cobblestone bridge leading to the rather fancier side of
England. Domed buildings and towers silhouetted the pink sunset sky, casting
a vibrant glow across the city as more windows turned on their lights.
Don gazed out the window, at the sea and the boats in the distance. A
couple was having a date at the side of the road. Interesting venue.
Lab tried to strike up a conversation. ‘So!’ He chirped way too
enthusiastically. ‘Anything going on with family?’ Don shrugged, as if the
question itself was an insult. Lab thought he could see a frown tug at the
corner of Don’s mouth.
Lab’s stomach fluttered, as the butterflies beat against his ribcage. It
was an awkwardly silent car trip, with all of Lab’s action figures piled up in the
back. What was this feeling? Why did he feel like he was meant to be with
Don? He could only be in love with women, this was the 1800s. Bruh.
His eyes darted from the rearview mirror and then back to Don. His
heart pounded furiously, as if the whole world was watching him.
Soon, the car had turned a corner and into a narrower part of the road.
Other automobiles were chugging by, though some were still horse powered.
Don still hadn’t said anything. Lab was starting to actually worry. Was Don
angry that he had resigned? Did he not like WrigglyChig? No, Lab had seen
Don eating there before. Then why did he feel so nervous? It wasn’t like it was
his first date or anything.
Soon enough, they arrived at WrigglyChig. The elegant building of white
and light gray marble stood out beside the other old-fashioned stone buildings.
The arches made of pure white topaz gave off a cold vibe that made visitors
shiver a bit before entering. Lab took a deep breath and got out of the car,
parking it at the side of the road.
Don had already gotten out, holding a small briefcase and his top hat.
Finally, he started talking. “It looked smaller from the bridge,” he whispered in
awe. Lab laughed unpretentiously.
“Yeah, this place really is magnificent.” He murmured, tearing his gaze
from the building onto Don’s eyes. These were the same eyes that studied the
board during his chess games, the same eyes that stayed up until midnight
reading chess analysis textbooks, the same eyes that Lab was in love with.
Don suddenly became self-conscious and rubbed the area next to his
eye. “Is there something on my face?” he asked apprehensively. Lab was
startled, cursing under his breath at himself for making Don feel like he was
the one who was wrong. “No, no, nothing.” He remarked.
They began walking up the stairs to the front doors. Lab was going to
do it. He had to work up the courage to hold Don’s hand. He stretched his
fingers slightly at first, sweating at the fact of touching Don’s hand. Although
they had shook hands an hour ago, that was nothing close to what Lab was
about to do.
He moved his elbow only slightly and soon their fingers were touching.
What were really seconds in real life seemed like weeks for Lab. Oop- now his
whole palm had slipped inside. For a tense three seconds, Don froze, making
Lab stop walking with him. In the moment of truth, Don clutched back. Their
hands were interlocked.
Lab wanted to squeal like a high school girl. He wanted to dance all
over the stairs and skinny dip in the fountain. His heart was hammering with
joy, and he thought he felt blood rushing around in his right nostril. He looked
over at Don, whose face stood solemn and neutral. He looked like the act of
kindness hadn’t moved him at all. In an instant, all of Lab’s joy evaporated as
he realized Don probably wasn’t comfortable with holding hands. Disappointed
and on the verge of tears, Lab started to loosen his grip, but Don kept holding
on, determined to not let Lab slip away from him, as if an otter were holding
onto its soulmate in the freezing waters of the Pacific, set on making sure they
didn’t float away. The thought touched Lab.