Gemotions

He stared at the chessboard, the pieces reflecting the dim light of the library. It was his last match of the tournament. He was in his element, the world reduced to sixty-four squares. A voice broke his concentration.

“Samuel,” his chess instructor said, “We want you to start employing the Sicilian Defense instead of the Caro-Kann in your upcoming games."

Samuel considered this for a moment. He had dominated with the Caro-Kann for the last year. The Sicilian was more aggressive, more unpredictable. But his instructor clearly thought he could handle it. "Alright, Coach," Samuel said. A faint smile played across his lips. He felt a newfound excitement. He knew this shift in strategy would confuse his opponents.