He's Really Good at Chess!

[18:14] Cortado says, "Uhh, well, come on. I guess I got an idea."
[18:15] Cortado asks, "You ever played uh... chess?"
[18:15] Guinevere Falstaff exclaims, "...!!"
[18:17] Guinevere can't believe this. She arrives in the Rhoynur's room and before complimenting it, she's met with a question about chess. Once did she ask someone if they knew how to play so that they can teach her-

So it can be used for her super-duper super secret plan.

Her exposed amber hue lights up. "No but I've always wanted to play!" Manicured digits come together. She does everything but squeal happily. "Ahh! I'm so excited."
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[18:19] Cortado nodded. He pulled up a chair on both sides of the chess table, and he said,

"Well... do you know the basics? What pieces can move in which ways... the rules and fundamentals of the game...?"

He began setting up the table. Apparently he was going to be playing with the black pieces - giving Guinevere a very slight mathematical advantage.
(Cortado)
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[18:21] He sets up a bunch of white and black pieces. "I wanted my nan play it before she got sick." The girl takes a seat and watches. He's sitting on the black side and she's on the white side.

"So.. Nope!" Guinevere shakes her head.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[18:34] Guinevere's words were taken into account. Cortado was a complete novice at the game himself - he hadn't the brightest mind when it came to calculation and strategy.

But, he knew the rules of the game, at least.

"Well, you see these pieces in the front? The ones that all look the same?"

He gestured to the pawns on her side.

"These are called pawns. They can only move forward... and they can only capture other pieces on a diagonal position to them."

He then gave a brief explanation of all the special pieces.

"The one back here is the king. The king can only move one space at a time, and he is the most important piece. The king is the whole objective of the game... you gotta capture him to win. The game ends when one of us can't make any moves without letting the king get captured - it's called 'checkmate.'"

"The one next to the king, is the queen. She can move as far as she wants in all eight directions, as long as there isn't a piece in her way. Next to the queen is the bishop. Bishops can move only in the four diagonal directions."

He looked to her.

"All good so far? Great...

Next to the bishop, you got the knight. Knights can only move in an L shape from where they are. Two spaces forward, and a space to the side. Knights are the only piece that can move past pieces without needing to capture them first - they can jump past any piece... it makes them really useful and sneaky.

At the very edge of the board on both sides are rooks. Rooks can move only straight up and down, or straight left and right."

As he finished explaining, he looked at her.

"That easy enough to understand, all of it?"
(Cortado)
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[18:44] The beginner is given an explanation of each piece on the board. Pawns, king, queen, bishop, knight, and rooks. Chess has one objective, capturing the king. In doing so are you victorious!

There's a lot that goes into it, strategies that she's not aware of. Sneaky knights, a row of pawns, a queen who can moves as she pleases. "The rooks have no limit?" She asks to clarify.

Looking down at the checkered board for a while, she nods. "Mhh... yeah! I think I get it. What made you learn how to play chess?"
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[18:46] Cortado thought as to that question, and then came to a conclusion. It was simple, really,

"Well, we had a table we brought with us everywhere we went in the Clan. I sometimes got to play with my brothers and sisters."

He peered at Guinevere intently now, saying,

"Since you have white, you move first.

You ready?"

https://play.chess.com/K7cQs
(Cortado)
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[18:47] It begins. Guinevere looks at the pieces. Will she come out on top, a total chess novice?

"Ready!" She picks a piece.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[18:48] Cortado says, "Hmm..."
[18:48] Cortado says, "Very strange move..."
[18:48] Cortado says, "In Chess, usually you want to move your pieces closest to the center..."
[18:48] Guinevere likely has a plan. Or she's playing entirely at random.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[18:48] Cortado says, "Like so."
[18:48] Guinevere Falstaff exclaims, "Oh!"
[18:48] Guinevere Falstaff asks, "Like this?"
[18:49] Cortado says, "...Maybe."
[18:49] Guinevere Falstaff says, "OH! You moved the knight."
[18:49] Guinevere stares.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[18:50] Cortado says, "Yes."
[18:50] Guinevere Falstaff says, "Hmm..."
[18:50] Cortado says, "The knight ain't got any restrictions, as long as his L-shape is open."
[18:51] Guinevere Falstaff asks, "Pawns take what's diagonal, right?"
[18:51] Cortado says, "Yes."
[18:51] Cortado says, "Anything one square in front of 'em in the diagonal."
[18:51] Cortado says, "...Ya really like movin' pawns..."
[18:52] Cortado exclaims, "Watch out...!"
[18:52] Guinevere Falstaff exclaims, "Ohh!!"
[18:53] Guinevere stares for a bit. She hums...
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[18:53] Guinevere Falstaff says, "Mmm..."
[18:53] Cortado says, "...Hmm."
[18:54] Cortado says, "Well, ya put it in a tricky spot..."
[18:56] Very tricky- But she sees an opportunity! Even if it requires sacrifice. Manicured digits hover over the knight before reeling back to tap at her chin.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[18:56] Guinevere Falstaff says, "Hmm..."
[18:57] Cortado says, "...I can't really tell what ya are goin' for here..."
[18:58] Guinevere Falstaff exclaims, "Good!"
[18:58] Guinevere likely has a plan???
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[18:58] Cortado says, "Far as I can see..."
[18:58] Cortado slowly moves his pawn over to take the knight.
(Cortado)
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[18:58] Sacrifices must be made. She takes his pawn in return.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[18:58] Cortado says, "...Hmm."
[18:59] Cortado says, "...Oh no... Guin..."
[18:59] Guinevere Falstaff says, "OH."
[18:59] Guinevere Falstaff exclaims, "NO!"
[19:00] He winces. That move put him in physical pain.

He begrudgingly, though mercilessly takes her rook with his bishop.
(Cortado)
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[19:01] She thought she was playing another dimension of chess but alas. Her eyes was on a different move that the bishop could've made. The sacrifice? Not noble. Alas, her pawn moves over to capture that bishop who so mercilessly captured her rook.

He's done her a good service for that singular move.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[19:01] Guinevere Falstaff says, "Thank you, Mister Rook..."
[19:02] Cortado asks, "Do you know the disadvantage of your pawns, as they are now?"
[19:02] Cortado says, "It can be really... really bad, when the game goes on..."
[19:03] Cortado says, "...When a pawn's behind another pawn like that... it can't make any moves."
[19:03] Cortado says, "Which means... if ya put a piece in front of it..."
[19:03] Cortado says, "Like this..."
[19:03] Cortado says, "Now ya got two pawns that can't do anythin'..."
[19:03] Cortado says, "Instead of just one."
[19:04] Oh no. She played right into his hand. Now her pawns are stuck.

Cheeks puff out. She's still in the game! While her pawns sit, USELESS, she moves her bishop over one place.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[19:05] Cortado says, "Ain't all bad..."
[19:07] Guinevere Falstaff says, "Hmm..."
[19:09] She looks at her bishop once more. The knight is there, but then instant capture. What to do?

Instead, focus turns to her reaming rook.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[19:09] Cortado says, "That's a good move."
[19:09] Cortado moves his queen to an interesting spot.
(Cortado)
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[19:09] Guinevere Falstaff says, "*remaining"
[19:11] She looks at his queen. This could be bad. The queen can move anything? That's the pawn then king. Checkmate. Instead of capturing his pawn with her rook, the knight rushes in to protect the poor pawn that could easily be wiped out.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[19:11] Cortado says, "Hmm."
[19:14] She lets out a relieved sigh before moving her rook and taking his pawn, as originally planned.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[19:15] Cortado says, "That's an all right move."
[19:15] Cortado advances the E pawn.
(Cortado)
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[19:15] Cortado asks, "What will you do now?"
[19:15] Guinevere Falstaff says, "..."
[19:17] Oh my. She stares at the board. He's put her in a situation. That pawn can take the knight, or the other pawn. Yet it feels like very clear bait.

"Hmm..."

Instead of capturing the pawn with her rook, or even capturing this near there, the pawn positioned in front of the king moves up.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[19:17] Guinevere Falstaff says, "Wait..."
[19:17] Guinevere Falstaff says, "NO"
[19:17] Cortado says, "...Guin..."
[19:18] Guinevere Falstaff says, "I SHOULD'VE LEFT IT THERE."
[19:18] Cortado says, "...Hmm..."
[19:18] Her mind was moving so fast. Guinevere leans back in her chair. Hands cover her face and she groans loudly.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[19:18] Cortado says, "There are a lot of ways to take advantage of it..."
[19:18] Cortado says, "But I ain't seein' what's best..."
[19:20] Cortado plays what might be a deceptive move...
(Cortado)
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[19:21] Guinevere Falstaff says, "Hm...""
[19:21] Cortado says, "Well..."
[19:21] Cortado says, "That's surprisin'..."
[19:21] Cortado says, "I think we call that a 'blunder.'"
[19:21] Cortado takes the queen with his rook.
(Cortado)
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[19:21] Cortado asks, "...But... ya are gonna win somethin' back. Do ya see it?"
[19:22] Guinevere Falstaff exclaims, "Oh!"
[19:22] Cortado says, "Yeah, that was good."
[19:22] Cortado says, "Lotta people forget the king can take stuff."
[19:23] Cortado says, "...I'm gonna give ya a hint."
[19:23] Cortado says, "Forgot t'explain this earlier... but..."
[19:24] Guinevere Falstaff asks, "But?"
[19:24] Cortado says, "If a piece can capture the king on the next move, the player whose king's in danger HAS to do somethin' about it... it's called 'checking.'"
[19:24] Cortado says, "Can ya see how ya can win a piece and even out the game a lil' bit by 'checking?'"
[19:25] Cortado says, "...Wait... no, that's a TRICK."
[19:25] Cortado exclaims, "I'M BAD AT THIS GAME TOO! SHIT!"
[19:25] Cortado says, "...or wait... i'm so good that even I can't see my own defenses..."
[19:25] Cortado grins smugly...
(Cortado)
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[19:27] Lots of bait. If only she hadn't foolishly moved her pawn then there'd be pressure on the queen- Even if a bit. Instead, Guinevere protects her bishop by moving it back.

"Hm..." She's really focused.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[19:27] Cortado says, "Yeah... think that mighta been your only good move..."
[19:27] Cortado says, "Anyway, here's an example of checkin' the king."
[19:27] Cortado says, "Now ya gotta do somethin' about it."
[19:28] Cortado says, "Either ya gotta move the king outta the way, or put a piece in between the king an' my queen."
[19:29] Guinevere Falstaff says, "Hm..."
[19:29] Cortado says, "...Oof..."
[19:29] Cortado exclaims, "A better move woulda been ta put yer' bishop in the middle, so he could take the pawn I was tryin' to steal... but now I can do... this...!"
[19:30] Guinevere Falstaff says, "Gah..."
[19:30] Cortado exclaims, "That's what I'm talkin' about. Nice!"
[19:30] Cortado says, "But now there's this move... "
[19:31] She desperately tries to protect the king.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[19:32] Cortado says, "Damn..."
[19:32] Cortado says, "I think you're on the ropes, Guin."
[19:32] Cortado delivers checkmate by taking the bishop. Once she looks close enough, she should see there are no moves.
(Cortado)
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[19:33] Defeat... There's nothing to be done about it either. Puffed cheeks redden just a bit before she pokes at her king until it wobbles and falls over.

"You've done well..." Checkmate.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[19:33] Cortado says, "...Ya did good for your first time."
[19:33] Cortado says, "Lasted 20 moves."
[19:34] Guinevere Falstaff exclaims, "But it was so fun!"
[19:34] Cortado says, "Sadly, looks like my nails are remainin' unpainted."
[19:34] * You have been awarded 1 Roleplay Points! *
[19:34] Guinevere Falstaff says, "Thank you for teaching me how to play."
[19:34] Cortado says, "Yeah, jus'... don't tell anyone I did."
[19:34] Guinevere Falstaff says, "--"
[19:34] Guinevere Falstaff asks, "Wha? Why not?"
[19:35] Cortado says, "Ain't want anyone knowin' I can play chess."
[19:35] She tilts her head. "But I know!"
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[19:35] Cortado says, "Ain't for my sake, though..."
[19:35] Cortado says, "Yeah, but yer' my friend."
[19:35] Guinevere Falstaff says, "--"
[19:35] Guinevere Falstaff says, "..."
[19:35] Guinevere Falstaff exclaims, "YES!"
[19:36] Guinevere Falstaff exclaims, "We're friends!"
[19:36] Cortado asks, "Yeah. Why ya sound so surprised?"
[19:36] Guinevere Falstaff exclaims, "I'm not!"
[19:36] Guinevere shakes her head a few times.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
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[19:37] Cortado says, "...Alright..."
[19:38] Guinevere Falstaff says, "Let's play again sometime."
[19:38] Cortado says, "Of course."
[19:38] Cortado asks, "Wanna get back outside?"
[19:38] Guinevere Falstaff exclaims, "I'll come out on top!"
[19:38] Guinevere Falstaff says, "Oh yeah we can if you want."