‘I can’t believe it!’ Cecil Andrews, the lousy Casanova, exclaimed as Slipstar poured his tea. ‘Lily Norris – she saw through last night’s beauty as if it wasn’t there!
‘Lily’s a bird of high society, and her father owns quite the nest. They threw a party in his name last night, and I was drinking at the bar when she entered the picture, all dolled up and pretty.
‘Now, Lily’s father’s into chess, and he’d invited some big shots who were playing each other halfway through happy hour. I figured she was a heavy hitter herself because I watched her humble a fair few of them.’
He took a sip of tea and grimaced. ‘Go on,’ said Slipstar.
‘Well, I waited another half hour or so, then approached her, claiming I could play eight games of chess simultaneously and notch a favourable result to boot. No one else seemed awfully interested at first; all drunk, but they livened up when I sat down to prove it. Very soon I had the whole place watching as I knocked bits out of eight reputable grandmasters. In the end, I broke even, losing at four tables but beating the other half. Naturally, I got a round of applause.’
‘But not the affections of the girl in question?’
Cecil sighed. ‘Bang on the nose again, old boy. She just laughed and shook her head!’
Slipstar smiled. ‘My commiserations, for it was a clever move.’
How did Cecil beat the grandmasters?
Lily spotted what no one else did – Cecil simply mimicked the moves of his opposition, who were, in effect, playing against themselves. By pairing off each player with another, Cecil ensured he would finish the night with an even number of wins and losses, as four grandmasters would win/lose against the other four.