Barney & Clyde by Gene Weingarten; Dan Weingarten & David Clark for September 07, 2022

The fool’s mate requires FOUR moves, and is still the fastest possible.

I was never that good a player, but used to study famous games and I could make it hard for a good player to beat me. Then I didn’t play for about 30 years. A few years ago I let a friend talk me into playing again. Our first game I stumbled into a Fool’s Mate (VERY embarrassing). Our second game I lost my queen in about six moves and resigned. I doubt I’ll ever play again.

People call my wife the fool’s mate all the time – I didn’t realize it was a chess reference.

But he concentrated. Barney, otoh…

I’m surprised that chess hasn’t been cancelled yet. After all, white always goes first.

That bench seat seems a risky place to set up a game.

Not many play today. I have a 14 year old grandson who is learning. I still play him without my queen so our games are more even. So I guess for a while, this move is out for me.

I found I had a facility for playing chess but didn’t want to live it and have my poor harried mother take me to the tournaments, so I play rarely.

In the chess game of life I play black. I do not act, I react.