Chess against a Painted Turtle
by Carter Moleski
1. The opening is always the easiest. Players develop their pieces
to try to take control of the center. The turtle holds black pieces, the man white.
2. The turtle takes a more preserved approach. She plays
the King’s Indian defense, tucking him into g8.
3. The middlegame is the hardest part. The turtle protects
her king like an egg, keeping him well guarded and buried
beneath the mud. But he is running out of oxygen.
4. The man takes advantage of the open board. Like fresh water
the tiles are gobbled up, swallowed, never digested, and therefore
never given back. The knights are overfishing, taking
turtle’s pawns before they can advance upstream.
5. The turtle's shell of pawn, rook, and bishop will not guard
her forever. She takes back. Trading pieces while down material
is rarely a good idea.
6. The endgame is lost. Extinction’s stench reeks through 64 squares.
Checkmate.
7. The man has all he has ever wanted, the board is his to do with
what he wishes. But the board is empty now. There is nothing left.