New York, Central Park bench

When he came walking towards me in that nonchalant way, I should have been more suspicious of that innocent look. Especially when he asked me if we need dice to play chess. But because he seemed interested, I suggested we play a match. At first, he refused pretending that he didn’t know how to play, that it must be very difficult, and that I must be an expert…he finally sat down.

I told him to start with whites because he was a beginner. After barely 15 minutes, he completely surrounded me, eliminating any possible move. I couldn’t do anything to avoid a sure checkmate; he destroyed me.  He looked at me with a smile, raised his coffee cup as it to give a toast and told me: “What can I do? Beginner’s luck. “

That night, I didn’t sleep a wink.

FO 85702 – 34 x 16 x 22 cm (LWH)