The Silent Gambit "If a ruler does not understand Chess, how can he rule over a kingdom? - King Khusros II AD 580 - 628" In the quiet town of Avenshire, where time flowed slower and the rain spoke in whispers against old rooftops, two figure...
Queen’s Gambit in Vegas “Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.” Bruce Lee The Strip sparkled like a jeweled serpent, but at the top of the Bellissimo Hotel — above the noise, the ...
“The Queen’s Sacrifice” "Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do." Bruce Lee It was the final round of the Grandmaster Invitational in the old city of Lviv, a place where history ech...
The Butterfly Effect "Excellence at chess is one mark of a scheming mind.” (S.Holmes)" A chess story inspired by a real game1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h6 ... Rain whispered on the windows of the Vienna Chess Café, a cozy, oa...
These Games Have Merit "Chess opens and enriches your mind (Robovic)" It was a Monday, and the rain was loud again. Through the dim windows of Merit Café, the water painted streaks across the glass like fi...
The Psychology of Quitting Early: A Chess Story "All I want to do, ever, is just play Chess (Fischer)" Jonah had always opened strong. He was a planner, a first-move kind of guy. He believed in control, in taking initiative—1.e4. ...
Someone’s Being Promoted "Chess is ruthless: you've got to be prepared to kill people (Short)" The clock ticked louder than it should’ve. In the silence of the tournament hall, it sounded like a war drum. Eight minutes left on ...
Winning Streak "All that matters on the chessboard is good moves. - Bobby Fischer " The coffee shop buzzed with the usual chatter, clinking mugs, and jazz playing low in the background. At the far corner, under a dim lamp, sat Theo—sh...
The Chessboard Chronicles "A good player is always lucky. - Capablanca " There was a chessboard in Grandfather’s attic. A dusty, ivory-and-ebony heirloom, carved by hand, its pieces worn smooth from generations of play. I found it...
Know the Rules "When you see a good move, look for a better one (Lasker)" The air in the community center’s tournament hall was thick with tension and the scent of cheap coffee. It was mid-July in Brooklyn, and the annual King&rsq...
Splitting Heirs "I like the moment when I break a man's ego (Fischer)" When Grandmaster Percival Thorne died, the obituaries called it “the end of an era.” The chess world mourned. His family, however, had more practical con...
Shortcut "The pin is mightier than the sword. - Reinfeld" Jared only meant to shave five minutes off the tournament. He was two points behind in the standings, playing black, and stuck in a stale endgame he’d already visualized to a ...
Checkmate: Now or Forever Hold Your Piece "Chess is as much a mystery as women - Purdy " Part 1: The Opening Gambit The clatter of rain on the high-arched windows of the Cathedral Library in Elmridge was rhythmic, almost like a ticking ...
May the Fork Be With You "Chess is a sport. A violent sport. - Marcel Duchamp " The kingdom of Caissia stood on the edge of chaos. War had not come by sword or siege—but across the checkered battleground of the Royal Courtyard, wher...
The Shrinking Box "Pawns: they are the soul of this game. (Philidor)" It began with a whisper — not in the room, but in his mind. Graham Mallory had played chess for thirty years, first as a boy in dusty youth clubs, then as a y...
Bullet Train to Nowhere “Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.” Bruce Lee The sun hung low on the horizon as the city buzzed with its u...
