God save my Queen...

A new desire formed in my consciousness about 4 months ago.  I was reading a distinctly average romance and felt very inspired by the intelligent use of chess strategy to describe the relationship between the main characters.  I finished the book and thought naff plot, intriguing game!

After a few enquiries I found a willing teacher in the infamous Sven Hardini (hmmm I'm slightly suspicious that he may be teaching me just so he can beat someone for a bit).  I set about looking for a board and pieces (gulp - expensive) and even debated buying a travel set just to get me started.  Hardly conjures up images of whiskey, cigars and a battle of wits, more tea, biscuits and clumsy fingers that knock the board askew.  It was within this dilemma that Operation Chess Mate was born.

If I wish to learn the ways of the force, why not construct my own light saber as training!

Many young apprentices are required to work to earn their training (wax on, wax off) so why not use our creative juices to build our own board and pieces!  This is how I found myself making clay bishops while Sven got far too excited cutting would with his jigsaw.

We've yet to varnish and glue the board, and name our pieces, but everything is progressing nicely.  Right now we're thinking of biblical names; Abraham and Moses (Kings), Esther and Ruth (Queens), Elijah and Elisha (Bishops) and so on and so forth.  We debated using Jesus but felt that that piece would unduly bias the game.

Am ridiculously proud of my (ahem) beautiful creations, and though we may not have the most elegant set in the world, I will mourn each lovingly made pawn taken in the game.  If making the boards been this much fun I can't actually wait start actually playing.  I hope I have the smarts to rise to the challenge...

NB. I'm having a long weekend at my parents; great food, beautiful countryside, lots of laughter...  I can actually feel myself relaxing... 

Comments

[Chris]

During our 24-7 team in Edinburgh last year my team mate and I took each other on at chess, taking the black and white pieces to symbolise the forces of the kingdoms of darkness and light...until darkness won the best of three games. We decided to give the chess a miss this year!

[carlos]

I used to love chess so much. I would love to play with you someday!

[Carla]

Chris that's hysterical! Carlos - your on, Round Table 05, you, me and a battle of wits. Every time we lose a pawn we have to down a shot of Tequilla! (Hmm well maybe not, I'm quite a light weight...
xc

[abbot]

I'll play the winner. Wait till you meet Grandmaster Freeman who once got beat in 3 moves in a school chess match.

[sven]

you expect me to win?! that was not in the agreement. and andy i once had to resign after NO MOVES after getting a pawn stuck in my ear.

i hope to manage a knight this time round

[carlos]

hahaha, nice one sven. I am very down with the tequila idea! sounds wicked.

[jonah]

Ummm... I have to say that Carlos is gonna beat all comers. I put a fiver on Carlos to reign for at least a decade as 24-7 Grand Chessmaster.

He won't agree, but then he is a shark anyways.

[AJ]

Carla I'll have a game with you anytime!

Anyway good to hear you keeping blogging take care will ya?!