The King Who Wouldn't Castle

The King Who Wouldn’t Castle

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Joey. One day Little Joey was very excited because her Uncle Chester was coming to visit. She was Little Joey’s favorite uncle because Chester first started calling her little Joey, and taught Little Joey how to play her favorite game. Chess! Every visit Little Joey tried as hard as she could, but never beat her uncle at the game. Afterwards, Little Joey would ask questions and learn something new. Little Joey heard the doorbell, and ran to the door to greet her uncle.

“Hello Uncle Chester! I’ve missed you so much.”

“Hello Little Joey. Are you ready to play some chess?”

“Of course I am, and this time I have a different strategy to try against you that’s sure to win.”

“Little Joey. You can’t win against me. I’ve been playing far too long, and have learned so much more than you. Let’s give you a better chance of winning. How about I let you choose any one of my pieces, except the king, and it’s captured.”

“That doesn’t sound right,” Little Joey replied with a confused look on her face. Was this a test? Or a trick?

“Not good enough for Little Joey? Ok. I will double my offer. You can choose two of my pieces, other than the king. Both knights, both bishops, both rooks, mix and match, or even one of those and my queen. Now will you play me chess? I want you to have a chance to win.”

For a moment, Little Joey thought about the offer. Could it be too good to pass up? Starting a game with a huge advantage over her opponent is an almost guarantee to win. Why would she say no? Little Joey looked at her uncle straight in the face and said,

“If I’m going to beat you, I want to win fair and square. That means all of your pieces against all of mine.”

“That’s my girl. I’m so proud of you not wanting to take the easy way out. On the

other hand, I promise you you don’t stand a chance against me. What about a handicap? Is there a piece you wouldn't like me to move?”

Little Joey liked her uncle’s offer. She thought about which piece she would want stuck. Her first idea was the queen, but then he thought of an even better handicap.

“Uncle Chester, I want to play a fair game. I want to go against all of your pieces. However, if there is a handicap you would like to offer. It’s so impossible to reach your king after you castle. What if you are not allowed to castle the whole game?”

Uncle Chester was surprised at what a brilliant answer his niece had for him.

“Little Joey. I think that is the best answer! In fact, it’s so smart, I have a proposition for you. I will agree to not castling, but I want to make it much more interesting than that. Not only will I not castle, I will also not move either of my rooks nor king. Plus, as a bonus, If you can move my king from my starting position, I will forfeit.”

“Move your king? That’s so easy!” Little Joey screamed.

“Oh really. So you accept my challenge?”

Little Joey was excited. She thought to herself how difficult could it be just to move a king? This time she was sure to beat her Uncle.

“Yes Uncle Chester,” Little Joey replied with a big smile on her face. She went to her room to get her chess board. Little Joey set up the board, and her uncle went to the kitchen for some coffee. When uncle Chester returned she asked little Joey,

“What colour would you like to be?”

“I want to be white because I have a new opening to try against you that is sure to win.”

“I wish you a good game, and good luck Little Joey,” uncle chester said as they shook hands preparing for a match.

“Uncle Chester. I remember you told me in the beginning, it’s important to control the center. So this time, instead of focusing on attacking you, my attention will

be on the four center squares.”

“Interesting, but you'll never move my king. What’s your first move?”

“I want a start strong with lots of options on controlling the center. My first move is King’s pawn advance two.”

Uncle Chester took a sip of his coffee and said,

“Interesting, but you'll never move my king. I wish you good luck and a good game. I will block your king’s pawn with my king’s pawn,” and advanced two spaces.

“Ok Uncle Chester. I can never win against you with the same old moves. So instead of the normal advancement of my king’s knight to the center, I am going to move my queen’s bishop’s pawn two spaces asserting more control over the center.”

Uncle Chester admired Little Joey trying something new. He took a sip of his coffee and said,

“Interesting, but you'll never move my king. I wish you good luck and a good game.” He then attacked little Joey’s king’s pawn with his king’s knight.

“The strongest offence is a good defence. I will defend my king’s pawn with my queen’s knight.”

Uncle Chester took a sip of his coffee and said,

“Interesting, but you'll never move my king. I wish you good luck and a good game.” He then attacked Little Joey’s knight with his king’s bishop.

“You can’t fool me uncle Chester. I see that you want to attack my king’s pawn, but I won’t let you have it so easily. My knight is protected from your bishop and I am willing to trade. But you can’t have my king’s pawn for free. I will use my bishop for protection.”

Uncle Chester took a sip of his coffee and said,

“Interesting, but you'll never move my king. Do you think that was your best move? Maybe, maybe not. I wish you good luck and a good game.”

Little Joey was confused. Was it not a good move? What was wrong with it? By advancing the bishop little Joey now had two pawns protected for the price of one.

“Yes Uncle Chester. I think that was the best move.”

“Ok. What are you going to do after my king’s bishop captures your queen’s knight?”

“Of course I’m going to capture your king’s bishop in return. It wouldn’t make sense to just let you take it away for free. Queen’s knight’s pawn capture’s your king’s bishop.”

Uncle Chester took a sip of his coffee and said,

“Interesting, but you'll never move my king. Do you think that was your best move? Maybe, maybe not. I wish you good luck and a good game.”

Once again, Little Joey was confused. What was wrong with the move she made? It free’d the queen’s bishop to exit. It asserted more control over the center. It was a safe position free from attack.

“Yes Uncle Chester. I think that was my best move.”

“Ok. What are you going to do after my queen’s pawn advance’s one?”

Little Joey was looking at the board. Was everything going as she planned? Five moves into the game, and only one equal piece from each side had been captured. When she examined the center of the board, they were both equally occupied, but Little Joey was more on the offensive for the right side. How could things be going wrong? His next frame of thought was to attack.

“Uncle Chester, I don’t want to stop being offensive against you. I will move your king and be the winner of this game. I choose to advance my queen’s bishop to attack your queen’s pawn.”

Uncle Chester took a sip of his coffee and said,

“Interesting, but you'll never move my king. I already saw you coming as soon as you captured my king’s bishop. Unfortunately for you, my king is still safe and protected. Unless there is something you can do about it? I wish you good luck and a

good game.” He then advanced his queen’s knight to the center.

Little Joey had the perfect plan! Or so she thought.

“Uncle Chester, I wanted you to see my bishop was coming because I am preparing to break down your defences. All I need is a small window to fit in and I’m sure to move your king, and win this game. I advance my queen’s knight’s pawn one to attack your queen’s pawn. Now I’ve broken down your defences and your king is mine.”

Uncle Chester took a sip of his coffee and said,

“Interesting, but you'll never move my king. You did create a window, but I assure you. My king is safe and is not going anywhere. You’re expecting me to trade pawn for pawn, but why would I let your bishop have any entry to my king? No no no Little Joey. What are you going to do after my queen’s pawn advances one attacking your king’s pawn? I wish you good luck and a good game.”

Little Joey didn’t know what to do! She was quickly losing hope for success. Her master plan to make an entry for an attack had been shut down. Her control of the center was in jeopardy.

“I, I don’t know what to do next Uncle Chester. My king’s pawn only has one defence against your double attack. Do I go for a trade? Or should I defend my pawn and assert control over the center? I think my best move is to protect the pawn. I will draw out my queen to not only protect the pawn, but to also attack your king’s knight.”

Uncle Chester laughed. He then took a sip of his coffee and said,

“Interesting. Do you think that was your best move? Maybe, maybe not. I wish you good luck and a good game.”

“Uncle Chester, you keep asking the same question.”

“First, I’m going to attack your queen. If I don’t have to capture your queen for the game to be over and I win.”

“That’s not fair Uncle Chester. You can’t say that you are the winner until you have me in checkmate.”

“This is true. But now I’m going to do one of two things. Either capture your queen to a soon checkmate, or checkmate in four moves. Watch and learn. I am about to force moves on you pushing you into a position of destruction. There is nothing you can do to stop me,” Uncle Chester said with a big grin on his face. He then captured Little Joey’s king’s pawn forking Little Joey’s bishop and queen.

“No problem. I’ll just capture your queen’s pawn with my bishop.”

“That’s right. Now what are you going to do when I attack your queen with my queen’s bishop?”

Little Joey was in big trouble. She didn’t have a choice, but to save her queen. With only two safe spaces to move to, left or right. Poor Little Joey didn’t have a choice.

“I don’t have a choice. I think my queen will be safe hiding behind your queen’s bishop.”

“Yes, Exactly where I wanted you. My king’s knight capture’s your king’s bishop, attacking your queen. Are you willing to lose your queen for my king’s knight?”

“That doesn’t sound like a good trade. My queen is worth nine points, and your knight is only three. Besides, I can just capture your bishop. Yes that’s what I will do.”

Uncle Chester took a sip of his coffee and said,

“Good game.”

“Good game?”

“I told you Little Joey that there was no way to stop me… My queen capture’s your queen’s pawn. You’re in check. You are forced again to move to only two squares, to the left or right. Finally, my queen capture’s your king’s bishop’s pawn while being protected by my king’s knight and the game is over.”

“Uncle Chester! How did you do that so fast?”

6

“Little Joey… You forgot two important factors to win at chess. Do you know

what they are?”

Little Joey was trying to remember what she forgot to do? It

wasn’t controlling the center of the board. It wasn’t trading. Then little Joey remembered what she had forgotten to do.

“I forgot to advance my bishop, and I didn’t castle.”

“I admire your attempt to control the center of the board. However, you missed the whole purpose of why it is so important. The person who has control of the center has an easier sense of movement. You did block me with your pawns, but your pawns were stuck in the center. That was not a proper way of controlling the center. If you compare it to me, I allowed my knights, pawns, and queen space to move around and gain more control.

You were more focused on having power in the center forgetting about closing off loose ends. The whole left side of the board was open for an attack. And yes, another mistake you made was trapping one of your bishops behind two pawns. Your knights and bishops are part of your strongest offence, and you should utilize all of them to their fullest capabilities. Finally, I don’t make one move like you. I can see ahead for where I want to go, and where I want you to push you. Where I should go if you move somewhere, and so on. You must plan your moves, and think three steps ahead. Making forced moves, like I did to you in the end are also critical elements to achieving victory.”

“But how do I do that Uncle Chester?”

“The same way I did. Practice. Not making, but learning from your mistakes. You have to lose. A lot. But you aren’t really losing if you learn what you did wrong, and can figure out another, more advantageous move instead.

There is so much to learn in this game. From pinning to forking, controlling the center in the beginning, pawn placement, forced moves, looking forward at least three steps, and protecting the king just for starters. But understanding chess will help anyone be better problem solvers, and have a more advanced knowledge of lots of things like team work and even math!

Keep playing and playing. The more you play, the more you will understand how the pieces work together, and where they fall apart. You are very smart, and I believe in you.

7

Don't forget, you’re never a loser if you’re having fun, and if you learn. Those are the most important things about chess. It’s one of the oldest games ever played, and you can never stop getting better at it. Little Joey, please tell me what you've learned.”

“First, controlling the center not only means control of the middle pieces, but the ability to have my pieces move freely around it. Second, my knights and bishops should be advanced early and not blocked off by my pawns in the beginning of the game. Third, create forced moves on my opponent. Fourth, always protect the king, And most important, look ahead Uncle Chester.”

“Very good Little Joey. I’m quite impressed with all that you’ve learned in such a little time. You’re so smart, and I’m so proud of you. I love you. Would you like to play again?”

“I love you too! Sure thing uncle Chester. And you won’t beat me so easily next time…

“I hope not Little Joey.”

The End

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