Hello. I don’t play chess, my hobby is writing, but I sometimes enjoy solving chess puzzles. It occurred to me recently that a chess game consists of a bunch of different characters, with different characteristics, engaged in conflict. Which are the ingredients of a story. One puzzle I saw recently inspired me to create a story which is admittedly kind of simple, even childish, in itself, but which seemed to me to be quite satisfying when the telling was combined with playing it out on a chessboard.
I’m dropping it off here. If anyone who has both a chess set and a kid who is within the age-ranges of listening to stories and ready to learn about chess is willing to try it out, I would be happy for any feedback. Of course I know that the moves, while plausible, are improbable (and I know the castling was unnecessary for the game, I just wanted it in the story): as I said, I’m apt to serve the story before the game. Still, any comments will be welcome.
The Queen Who Did Nothing:
A Chessboard Story
[ Start with an empty board. As you begin the story, start arranging the black pieces on the board according to the rules. ]
( Begin placing pawns ) Once upon a time there was a small country ( finish placing pawns ), ruled by a king and queen ( place king and queen ) who were just and kind and wise, and lived modestly so that their people might prosper. Their names were William and Alexandra, and they lived in a castle ( place rooks ) with their son and daughter, who had grown up to be the strong and brave knights who would protect the kingdom from danger ( place knights ). The king was very ill, and often fell into a sleep from which he could not be easily awakened. Queen Alexandra, having vowed to never leave his side while they both lived, quietly made many decisions in her husband’s name, always to her people’s benefit, without ever taking credit. Sometimes she would seek advice from her two bishops ( place bishops ), who were tasked with seeing to the spiritual needs of the kingdom.
[ As you continue, arrange the white pieces on the board, again in the standard manner. ]
Unfortunately, there was another kingdom in the far mountains, one ruled by a monarch who was cunning rather than wise, cruel instead of kind, and prized deceit highly and justice not at all. His spies had told him of the good king’s sickness, and he resolved that he would have his neighbors’ crops for his granaries, their gold for his coffers, and their subjects for his slaves. To that end, he began secretly sending soldiers into the valley between them ( first move is white’s: pawn to H3 ).
One morning one of Alexandra’s subjects, a farmer, went out to his field ( pawn to E5 ). As he was deciding where he would plant his beans and corn, he was startled to suddenly see a stranger ( pawn to E4 ). “Hello,” the farmer said, and he looked over the stranger’s shoulder and saw what looked like a large army in the distance. “Hello, yourself,” said the stranger, and shrugged off his cloak to reveal the uniform of a soldier, and a sword.
The castle’s gatekeeper had also noticed the approaching army from atop the castle walls, and immediately sent word to the queen. She turned to the bishop praying at her husband’s sickbed and said, “good sir, you are a man of peace and a bishop of the church. You will be my ambassador: meet with these visitors and discover their intentions. If they are peaceful, and are simply in need, you may freely offer our help. I will look after my husband.” And so the bishop set off ( king’s bishop to C5 ).
In the distance, more soldiers were coming forward ( pawn to D3 ). The queen turned to her son and said, “You will accompany our ambassador the bishop. If these friends turn out to be enemies, he may need an escort home. And remember what I have taught you: when there is danger, seek out your sister, for side by side you fight not as two, but as sixteen.” And her valiant son rode off to follow the bishop ( knight to C6 ).
Meanwhile, in his encampment, the mountain king made a treacherous plan. He called for his favorite spy, dressed him in the robes of a bishop, and sent him off to murder Queen Alexandra ( bishop to G5 ). When the false cleric arrived, the queen’s daughter sprang to intercept him, ( knight to F6 ) saying, “Approach no further! We will not treat with an envoy who comes in front of an army still advancing!” As indeed they were ( pawn to B3 ). “Please, good knight, let me pass!” cried the spy. “As you can see, I am a man of God, and I seek only peace and understanding.” The brave knight at first stood her ground, but her mother spoke, saying, “Daughter, I will speak with this emissary. Please stand aside.” The brave knight hesitated, but the queen admonished her, saying, “If I should die, shall my last thought be that I was unworthy of your obedience? Go, and try to join your brother.” And the brave knight obeyed. As she rode she came upon a farmer under attack by a uniformed stranger with a sword. That stranger, suddenly confronted by a knight on horseback instead of merely an unarmed farmer, promptly fled (knight takes E4 ).
At the castle, the false bishop, left alone with the queen, drew his dagger and stabbed her (bishop takes D8). As she lay dying, the assassin sneered and said, “Foolish woman! Your kingdom is under attack and you suspected nothing and you did nothing: you did not protect your subjects or even your husband. You did not even move from your throne as I killed you. With such a leader, your people deserve to be our slaves.” He then turned, thinking to slay the king as well, but the king was gone. The gatekeeper, acting on the queen’s instructions, had, at her death, taken the king and removed him to a place of concealment (castle kingside: king to G8, rook to F8). “No matter,” thought the spy, “Even now, our armies must be approaching on their flank.” And indeed they were (knight to A3).
The queen’s bishop, meanwhile, had finally made his way past the soldiers and to the encampment (bishop takes F2). Knowing nothing of events back in the castle, the bishop said, “Please accept me as my queen’s ambassador, for I am a man of God and I seek only peace and understanding.” The mountain king paled when he heard these innocent words, for they echoed exactly the deadly lie he had given his assassin. In his guilty panic, he pushed the bishop aside and bolted out of his tent (king to E2). Just then, the good queen’s son arrived, and seeing his sister, rode to her side as he had always been taught (knight to D4—checkmate). Seeing how he had been defeated by his own treachery, the evil king surrendered (lay the king down on E2).
And that is the story of the queen who did nothing: and in doing nothing sacrificed herself so that her kingdom, her husband, and all of her people were saved.