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...
Professor: Hey, class, welcome to our circle of chess friends. Zephyr: Welcome to you as well, Professor. Lucian: We’re happy to arc across your day. Professor: And I’m pleased to hear that I’m surrounded by such g...
Professor: Class, how special it is to see you. Zephyr & Lucian: Hello, Professor. We do feel pretty special. Professor: Don’t let it go to your heads, but I’d like to start off with a question, if you don’t mind. Zephyr: I don’t mind...
Professor: Hello, Class. I hope you’re having a wonderful day. Zephyr & Lucian: Thank you, Professor. We hope you’re having a wonderful day, too. Professor: I am, especially now that I’m wearing my new jacket with i...
Any chess player who is familiar with the enormous heritage of the great Nimzowitsch should know his "Immortal Zugzwang Game." The last move of the game is a treat for a real chess connoisseur: In his book, Nimzowitsch expressed h...
Professor: Class, it’s good to see you. What brings you to this part of the world? Zephyr: I’m here for a chess class. I suspect so is Lucian. Lucian: Yeah, I guess that’s why I’m here, too. Zephyr: Professor, weren’t you going to talk a...
Professor: Hi there, class. I’m wondering if any of you have had an opportunity to castle today. Zephyr: I haven’t even had a chance to play chess yet, Professor. How could I castle? Lucian: Really? You haven’t played chess yet? Well I playe...
Professor: Hello, class. It’s good to see the gang’s all here for another session. Zephyr: Professor, does that mean we should thank Caissa it’s Friday? Lucian: Weekend or not, I’m happy as long as I get to do some chess. Professor: Ah ye...
Professor: Good afternoon, class. Today we’re going to start by defining some terms. Zephyr: Terms? What types of terms? Lucian: You mean like semesters and trimesters and stuff? Professor: Not those kinds of terms. No, I thou...
Professor: Hello, class. Are you prepared to get scientific about things? That is, are you ready to talk about bishops today? Lucian: Bishops?What bishops? Bad bishops? Zephyr: Or good bishops? Professor: Not quite either type. No, I’m th...
Professor: Good afternoon, class. --- Lucian and Zephyr: Good afternoon, Professor. --- Professor: I hope you’ve both been having a good day so far. It’s so nice and sunny out that I’ve been walking around enjoying the warmth. --- Lucian: But Pro...
Professor: Today I’d like to begin at the end – that is, with a rook ending. Lucian: You mean an ending where both sides have a rook on the board? In that case, I expect there are some pawns on the board, too. Zephyr: Or maybe you mean an ending...
Professor: Unless we’re Rip Van Winkle, and can sleep for a very long time, every day we have to make decisions. Some decisions are hard to make, others are easy. --- Lucian: I guess a hard decision would be where one has many choices. --- Zephyr:...
Professor: We know there are 64 squares on a chessboard. We also know there are 32 light squares and 32 dark ones. Now let’s talk material. How many pieces does a player start the game with? --- Lucian: It depends what you mean b...
“Good morning, class,” the Professor bellowed out. “Are you ready to take another intellectual journey?” --- Zephyr and Lucian nodded “yes.” --- “Well then, let’s begin. As you know, chess ...
“It’s good to see the both of you,” the Professor began. “And because you’ve become my two favorite students, I’ve got an intriguing problem for you to consider today. Working as a team, I’m hoping you can apply your wonderful analytic skills to s...
“I came upon a problem the other day I thought might be entertaining for our class,” Professor Pando began. “I can see on your faces you’re wondering what I mean by that.” --- Zephyr and Lucian looked enthusiastic but also a tiny bit puzzled. ---...
“I’m glad to see you’re both here in class together,” ProfessorPando said to Zephyr and Lucian. --- “Also, I want to tell you what I saw the other night at the chess club,” the Professor went on. “Although I don’t want to admit it, getting up at ...
“I’d like you to consider a position I often show in many of classrooms,” Professor Pando said in his usual clarion voice. “Of course, I have some comments to make about it. But before we go any further, let’s take an actual look at it.” --- ...
The Professor began somewhat formally: “For those who are feeling a bit rambunctious, let’s bring up the topic of rules. Particularly, let’s talk about a rule that was changed in the last 150 years or so.” --- “What rule is that?” Zephyr asked. “D...
The Professor had a twinkle in his one good eye. The other eye wasn’t too good either, but he tried to keep that a secret. --- “It’s so odd,” he began. I often see players with the black pieces play for a draw out of the ...
“Life can be funny,” the Professor began. “There are times when it seems we go round and round, never getting anywhere special.” --- “That sounds very philosophical,” Zephyr offered. “The other day my ma...
“Did you have a nice Halloween?” the Professor asked both Zephyr and Lucian who, once again, were in class together. --- Both of the Professor’s prized students nodded in agreement. --- The Professor continued: “I’m curious. What did you do last ...
