Tess Holt (fairplay) wrote,
@ 2011-09-11 01:40:00

It's been a couple of weeks. Tess has been impressed by how quickly Steven's adjusted. Still, idle hands...

Tess's came through the communication system to Steven. "Flash? Gym, please. Now."

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madeofgoesfast
2011-09-11 07:35 am UTC (link)

He has to keep reminding himself its not cheating. She's letting him use every available resource - including psychological warfare to this limited degree, to try and make an even match. And even with super speed thought, she's just plain smarter and better than he is - he needs the edge.

So he's got every book on chess stratagems read through, then given little sticky notes for easy re-reference during games, all laid out.
He has eleven boards set up in his room using whatever he could find for simple markers, so he can play games through on different scenarios before each move.
He's read her personnel file among the others he's scanned - and admittedly, he'll need to re-read most of the rest a few times, since most of his attention has been on the chess games and using speed learning to pick up all he can.
Of course, with speed learning, he'll need to play a lot or re-study it all later or he'll lose it, but right now, he's temporarily up there with the grandmasters.

The board is all set up in his room, where they'll have some privacy. Not that he'd mind Cat watching too much, if she offered to join or something, but figures, for now, privacy is likely good.

He also took the one side bit of mindgaming by setting up the obstacle course pieces, but not the parallel bars - trying to keep her mind on when she wins, not if, right where he wants her.

"Black or white?"

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	fairplay 2011-09-11 07:39 am UTC (link)
	She has to keep reminding herself it's not taking advantage. She's given him every possible edge. She still can't believe she got herself into this. She'd meant the original comment as a joke, rarely though she made them. "Black," she says, watching him intently. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	madeofgoesfast 2011-09-11 07:41 am UTC (link)
	He nods, turning the black side to her, and making his first move, while making an effort to keep a strict poker face. Or, rather, vibrating his features fast enough that no cold reader would be able to pick out any distinctive reaction. To have a chance, he needs every edge he can fairly get, and he knows it. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	fairplay 2011-09-11 07:45 am UTC (link)
	Tess, of course, has a pretty good poker face the old-fashioned way, although the nature of the wagers is making her bring the A- version instead of the A version to the board. Still, she's no squealing schoolgirl. She moves with both forethought and efficiency. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

madeofgoesfast
2011-09-11 07:50 am UTC (link)

For him, the game in some ways drags on forever. After every move, he consults the books, plays the scenarios out, and studies the board.

And comes to a conclusion... she is just better than he is. If he gets to know her tendencies, amidst the speed-learning, he may be able to pick up more of an advantage in later games... but right now, she's picking him off.

Until he hits on a new strategy. Everything she's done has been efficiency, logic, forethought. He can see just enough tics to know her mind isn't totally on the game... so he tests that.

He intentionally does something illogical, from a game perspective, perhaps suicidal... not because it will gain him an advantage if she plays it straight, but attempting to briefly change the game from chess to poker... he bluffs, betting that her logic and approach won't let her take his rook, thinking there's some sneaky trick behind it.

If it fails, he's toast. If it works, he thinks he can turn this game around.

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fairplay
2011-09-11 07:55 am UTC (link)

Only an idiot would have made that move.

...Only the heir to the throne of the kingdom of idiots would just take the rook without considering....

She must be missing something. Missing it while visions of shower-curtains dance in her head. She can't see it yet, but her bishop simply slides away, not taking the rook, trying to shore up position against.... whatever is going to be revealed.

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madeofgoesfast
2011-09-11 08:00 am UTC (link)

He manages to get to the other room to check the scenarios and double check his intended likely scenario before he lets himself grin.

He doesn't return until he manages to force a straight face again.

Having gotten her on her heels and playing defensively instead of the relentless attack that was so successful, he moves his knight to guard his rook, simultaneously covering the queen she would have otherwise had in three moves, and strengthening his position.

He shifts to a more aggressive strategy, taking advantage of her former strategy suddenly losing its teeth for as long as he can.

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	fairplay 2011-09-11 08:07 am UTC (link)
	Wait, that was a new defense. So what was the stratagem before about? She scrambles to regroup a new plan, but she's off now, and he's got his defenses going. Suddenly, it's not about when she wins anymore. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

madeofgoesfast
2011-09-11 08:10 am UTC (link)

He can see the scrambling, and attempts to not do anything stupid - lest she catch on to his earlier gambit... while taking the most risky and aggressive moves within accepted chess philosophy to keep her thinking outside her box.

For the moment, he's not getting cocky. This is best of three, not one, and her former domination is keeping him humble and focused, even as he takes her queen.

"Check."

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	fairplay 2011-09-11 08:16 am UTC (link)
	The next four moves unfold in her minds eye. Unless he does something stupid, checkmate. She plays it out to the end, though, just in case. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	madeofgoesfast 2011-09-11 08:18 am UTC (link)
	He's careful both to not look or act cocky in the least... and to make sure he makes no errors once he has her on the ropes. "Checkmate." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	fairplay 2011-09-11 08:20 am UTC (link)
	And so it is. But before ... oh. "You totally played me. You'll regret that, Mr. Garrick." And indeed, the shirt comes off. "Reset, please." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	madeofgoesfast 2011-09-11 08:23 am UTC (link)
	.oO(Wow... she is perfect.) It takes a moment, even in real time, to stop admiring her in her bra. After clearing his head, he resets the board, shifting it around so she play white, and moves first this time. "I admit it." he agrees readily. "And have no doubt I will. Your move." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	fairplay 2011-09-11 08:26 am UTC (link)
	And she's back in attack mode as she leans forward -- and forward -- and begins geting her pieces into play. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

madeofgoesfast
2011-09-11 08:29 am UTC (link)

The leaning is just cruel - and, per their previous conversation, just plain distracting. First to lose really did gain an edge.

Enough that he loses track of sequence. Its not a big mistake, and there's every chance her renewed attack would put him right back on edge anyway... but he still loses track of which game he's playing, and plays a scenario from last game, leaving him with less than a second to make a move... and even confronted with the board, its the wrong move, leaving her an open avenue to his queen if she sees it.

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	fairplay 2011-09-11 08:32 am UTC (link)
	And oh, she sees it. The bishop slides across the board and takes the queen. "Check." And there's a hint of a smile. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	madeofgoesfast 2011-09-11 08:34 am UTC (link)
	"Inevitable." he replies, and just tips his king over. "I concede rather than prolong the misery." he adds. He disappears for the briefest of moments to recollect himself and reset his scenarios. When he returns, he's sans shirt as well, and better collected. The board is reset in an instant and turned back around. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	fairplay 2011-09-11 08:36 am UTC (link)
	Tess is going to let herself enjoy the view for a moment, although she quickly gets possession of her face back. And her eyes are mostly on his moves as he makes them. Mostly. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

madeofgoesfast
2011-09-11 08:41 am UTC (link)

Time to make sure the distraction is one way. He not only checks his moves, but steadies himself between each round. To her perceptions, he's sitting there shirtless for the most part, and maybe he plays it up just a little, maybe... but then she did the same.

For him, there's a break, and, at one point, even a chance to splash himself with cold water between moves along with analysis.

He's also seen her play twice now, so speed learning has kicked in just a little more, letting him counter her better than in first game... but its still looking somewhat grim.

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	fairplay 2011-09-11 08:46 am UTC (link)
	Oh, she's got no complaints for how he works it. She continues her aggressive methods, and even lets herself take a few risks -- while trying not to think about the fact that the obstacle course is waiting. And she slides her bishop over to take a piece without checking his defenses as thoroughly as usual. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

madeofgoesfast
2011-09-11 08:50 am UTC (link)

He almost hesitates, thinking she might be trying to sucker him.

The difference is that he doesn't need to try and envision anything. He can check every possible next move, and verify it was an error... amazingly.

He ignores the bishop, leaving it stranded where it can't add to her defense any for at least a few moves, and sets up to take a rook instead. The queen is set up to follow.

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	fairplay 2011-09-11 08:53 am UTC (link)
	And she sees now. She can't move to save her queen without leaving her king vulnerable. So she just does the best she can. "I'm all about prolonging the agony." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

madeofgoesfast
2011-09-11 08:58 am UTC (link)

Rather than get cocky, he's extra careful now. Having siezed a whiff of victory from the jaws of defeat, he's careful not to make any mistakes, and keep his mind on this game and this game only.

He takes the queen, then trades a knight for a rook. When he finds himself envisioning the future, easy enough to relive the moments when she was winning instead. The future will take care of itself if he takes care of the moment.

"I can see that." he replies, considering a move carefully - quite sure if anyone is capable of turning this around, its her. He tries to make sure it doesn't happen.

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	fairplay 2011-09-11 09:01 am UTC (link)
	And Tess fights the good fight, but without any flaws on his part, even she can't turn it around. When it's done, she stands, and slips her jeans off to stand in her underwear. She holds her arms out. "To the gym?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

madeofgoesfast
2011-09-11 09:04 am UTC (link)

He breathes a sigh of relief. "If Cat sees you like that, you know she's going to be curious. Normally I wouldn't ask someone in your state of undress this, but want me to carry you to ensure we're not seen?

And just to show there's no hard feelings, you'll get your rematch whenever you want it... and can name any one condition of losing, anything, long as its fair."