"Check," Maya said calmly.
"I hate this game," Alex sighed. "The pieces do not move like footballers. The Knight moves in an L shape. It makes no sense."
"It makes perfect sense," Maya said, adjusting her glasses. "Chess is not about running, Professor. It is about position. It is about controlling the board without moving a muscle."
She pointed to the White Queen.
"See this piece? This is Real Madrid. It can go anywhere. It can kill you from a distance. It is powerful. It is arrogant. And it is waiting for you."
Alex stared at the White Queen. It looked scary.
"So how do I beat the Queen?" Alex asked.
Maya smiled. She picked up a small, humble Pawn.
"You do not beat her with power," Maya said. "You beat her with sacrifice. You give her something she wants... so you can take what she needs."
She moved the Pawn forward. The Queen took the Pawn. But in doing so, the Queen moved into a trap.
"Checkmate," Maya whispered.
Alex sat back. "Sacrifice. I can do that."
