Professor: How nice to see you all today, class. The class tried to look like it was smiling. Professor: If you recall, last week’s session began with a position Thomas had emailed me. Thomas: It was a position where a queen beat a rook and kni...
Professor: Good afternoon, class. The class offered a nebulous “hello” to the Professor. Rachel: What's on the agenda for today, Professor? Professor: I thought we'd show examples based on a position Thomas emailed me earl...
Professor: Welcome, everyone. In its typical blasé manner, the class offered a communal smile back. Professor: How unusual for this class, Thomas. You have your hand up. What is it? Thomas: I saw a position in Washington Square ...
Professor: Good day, class. The class smiled back, some of the students even said “hi.” Professor: Are there any questions before we begin today’s session? Hale: I was wondering if I could show the final moves from a blitz game I had the other...
Professor: Howdy, class. Here the class responded with a collective “hi.” Professor: We have a new class member being added to our roster today. I’d like you to meet Idris. Everyone smiled coyly, but warmly. Zephyr: Wha...
Professor: Bonjour, class. Class: Bonjour, to you as well, Professor. Lucian: What’s with the French? Thomas: Were you trying to confuse us? Professor: No, not at all. Zephyr: Then why use French to say good afternoon? Ryan: Do...
Professor: Welcome back. Class: Welcome back to you, too, Professor. Rachel: So what are you going to talk about today? Professor: Well, the last two sessions had to do with queens winning queens. Ryan: Were you planning to present more of...
Professor: Happy July 18, class! Class: Happy July 18 to you, Professor. Rachel: What’s so special about July 18? Professor: I don’t know. It just seems like a beautiful day. Thomas: Actually, on this date, in the year with the...
Professor: Welcome back! Zephyr: Thank you, Professor. We welcome your welcome. Professor: I hope you enjoyed our class barbecue last week. Thomas: I know I did. Lucian: Me too. The hot dogs and hamburgers were great. Rachel: I also like...
Professor: Happy Independence Day, Class! Lucian: You mean happy July Fourth, don’t you? Zephyr: They’re the same day. Thomas: That’s the way the Founding Fathers planned it. Zephyr: Maybe the Founding Mothers had the sam...
Professor: Class, how wondrous to see you! Here, the burble of garbled voices seemed to say pleasant prattling things back to the professor. Professor: They say all good things must come to an end, and that’s the case today. Thomas: Are you lea...
Professor: Hello, class. I see you’re back for more after last week's discussion. Zephyr: We certainly are. Hale: You had me thinking of fortresses all week. Professor: Did I? I’m sorry about that. Hale: Don&rsquo...
Professor: Good evening, class. Lucian: Good evening? But it’s only one o’clock in the afternoon. Professor: Oh, forgive me. I’ve just flown back from Phnom Penh and I forgot to reset my watch. Here, the class was...
Professor: Hello, class. Why so pale and wan? Class: (No response.) Professor: Well, allow me to enliven your day by introducing two new classmates, Thomas and Rachel. Everyone smiled guardedly. Professor: I believe Zephyr and ...
Professor: What do you say, class? Class: (Mumbled voices.) Professor: It’s great that I have a captivated audience. Hale: Captivated or captive? Professor: Now that I’ve captured your attention, let’s talk a...
Professor: Hey, class. How’s it going? Hale: Great! Lucian: OK. Ryan: Terrific! Zephyr: It could be better. Professor: Wow, such ups and downs. Listening to you is like being in an elevator. Lucian: It beats g...
Professor: Welcome, class. Are you ready for some chess? Class: Yes we are, Professor. Professor: I thought today we’d take it easy and look at a few trouble-free problems, nothing special. With various tournaments coming up, it can’t hurt ...
Professor: Good afternoon, class. I trust you’ve had an eventful week of chess. Lucian: I certainly did. I played tons of blitz at the Marshall Chess Club. Zephyr: I was busy studying. I read a section on open files in Jeremy Silm...
Professor: Hello, class. I see we’ve doubled in size. Allow me to introduce two new classmates. Zephyr and Lucian: Two new classmates? Professor: Zephyr and Lucian, please meet Hale and Ryan. Zephyr and Lucian: Hello. Hale and Ryan: H...
Professor: Good day, class. It’s wonderful to see you. Zephyr and Lucian: It’s wonderful to see you, too, Professor. Professor: As different as the two of you are, you always seem so connected. Lucian: You mean like emotionally aware, h...
Professor: Good afternoon, class. I hope this past week has been spectacular. Zephyr: It was for me. I got to go to a concert. I heard Beethoven’s "Symphony No. 9". It was glorious. Professor: The Ninth Symphony! I wish I could have been th...
Professor: Good afternoon, class. Just seeing your smiling faces makes my day. Zephyr: It makes your day? That sounds like a quote from an old Dirty Harry movie. Lucian: Why? Does Clint Eastwood play chess in those movies? Professor: I d...
Professor: Hello, Class. Happy April Fool’s Day! Lucian: Professor, April Fool’s Day has come and gone. It was three days ago. Zephyr: I prefer to think of April 1 as being Rachmaninoff’s birthday. Lucian: I don’t know if I’d play ches...
Professor: Good day, class. Would you rather be a knight? Or would you rather be a bishop? Zephyr: That’s quite a “hello,” Professor. Lucian: I’m fine. How are you? Professor: I’m doing OK. Forgive me f...
