Chapter 119:

Irish Chigorin countergambit

En Passant Grandmaster

Carol stared at the board for a bit before finally deciding to move her bishop to f4.

"Not taking it? Well the Queen's pawn opening: Chigorin Irish gambit is my go-to counter for London systems, in case you were wondering," Sorcha smiled as she captured the pawn at d4 with her c-pawn.

"Are Irish gambits all you play?" Sorcha asked as she captured the pawn at d4 with her queen.

"Hmm, when I can, I always do," Sorcha replied as she moved her knight to f6."

"Well then it sucks for you, cuz I just binged videos from my favorite chess Ewetuber on how to counter both Irish gambits," Carol smiled as she captured the knight at b8 with her bishop.

"Ara, ara. I wasn't expecting that. Though I am quite confident in how well I know this opening," Sorcha smiled as she captured said bishop with her rook.

Her confidence didn't last long though as Carol castled on the queen's side, leaving her confused as to what to do next. She thought for a few minutes before finally deciding to move her bishop to g4.

"Seems she's got some skill, but is still an intermediate," Mimoko thought as Carol moved her knight to f3.

Rather than capture it with the bishop, Sorcha opted to instead move her pawn to e5, but that was her first blunder.

"Lol, you hung that pawn," Carol grinned as she captured the pawn at e5 with her knight.

"Ara, seems I'm beginning to slip," Sorcha chuckled as she moved her queen to b6.

"Damn right! Check!" Carol grinned as she moved her queen to a4.

"Seems I'll just have to get lucky then," Sorcha chuckled as she moved her bishop to d7.

"I heard hope chess is bad though," Carol scowled as she captured said bishop with her knight.

"Usually I tend to get lucky against my opponents though," Sorcha countered as she captured said knight with her knight.

"And what's the skill level of the opponents you play?" Carol asked as she captured the pawn at d5 with her knight.

"Hmm... I guess 1000 would be the average, though once I got lucky and beat a 2000-rated player. Check, by the way," Sorcha stated as she moved her queen to h6.

"What was the time control for that game?" Carol asked as she moved her pawn to e3.

"Hmm... Normal I think, maybe rapid," Sorcha shrugged as she moved her pawn to b5.

"So how did you beat them?" Carol asked as she moved her knight to c7.

"Well, they played a Queen's Bongcloud and from there I just got lucky and they resigned after a few moves," Sorcha stated as she moved her king to d8.

Carol began to laugh. "Guess luck really can be a factor in some cases. Though skill is ultimately the name of the game," she grinned as she captured the pawn at b5 with her bishop.

"Still, I like to rely on luck," Sorcha smiled as she captured the knight at c7 with her king.

"Then feel free to. In fact, maybe I should be a bit more respectful of Lady Luck," Carol chuckled as she captured the pawn at a7 with her queen.

"Oh? Not gonna rely solely on "Mad skillz"?" Sorcha chuckled as she moved her king to d8.

"I said skill's the name of the game, but sometimes you need some luck too. Luck that you're opponent will play in a way you know how to counter. Like this! Checkmate!" Carol grinned as she captured the knight at d7 with her queen, winning the game.

"Wait, HUH!? ...Ara, ara. I really was outclassed. Seems your revenge is complete" Sorcha smiled.

The arbiter squad quickly dispersed, as Sorcha freed Mimoko. Mimoko smiled and immediately walked up to Iori and slapped her.

"The hell was that for!?"

"For making me go bald. I saw you two ogling in the window at my suffering!"

"What about Carol-chan?"

Mimoko scowled in embarrassment before walking up to Carol and slapping her gently on her head. "I was mad, but you played well, so I'll lighten your punishment."

Carol and Iori both grinned mischievously and shouted, "Tsundere!" much to Mimoko's annoyance.

"And am I just going to sit and watch?" Sorcha asked as she lounged in one of the salon chairs.

"What, you want us to shave you bald or something?" Iori asked.

A mischievous grin appeared on Sorcha's face. "Naturally. I did lose after all."

Iori and Carol pounced at the opportunity as Mimoko let out a frustrated groan.

"Just so you know, you are no longer our hostage, so you may roam the city freely and participate in the game," Sorcha stated.

Mimoko decided to take her up on the offer and stepped outside as Iori and Carol began shaving Sorcha.

As she walked around, she suddenly noticed two men standing over a pool of blood. One was garbed in armor from head riding atop a toy horse, while the other was garbed in traditional Gaelic attire and had orange hair and a wavy long beard.

The knight turned towards Mimoko and immediately galloped towards her, singing an introductory song. "Oh I am great Sir Grobhand, knight of Grob who plays the Grob. I play the Grob and slay the mobs. Never stood a chance against my Grob. Great Sir Grobhand slays grandmasters. The Desperado's knight of Grob, he plays the Borg when stuck as black, and unable to play a Double Grob. Great Sir Grobhand, slays grandmasters. A chivalrous battle to death; man, woma, or child, it matters not, I'll fight to the death. Great Sir Grobhand, slays grandmasters. The unstoppable Grob cannot be stopped for it is chess' great killer move. Great Sir Grobhand slays grandmasters-"

"Um, could you please give me some space?" Mimoko glared as she tried to swat away the knight's toy horse.

"Oi, don't slap my horse, woman. It's a rare breed n' needs to be treated properly. Been through a life of abuse before I took er' in."

"Uh, it's a TOY horse!"

"'Toye' you say? Oh, so that's what breed it is. Well out of the way. I'm off to reclaim a princess," the knight shrugged as he barged past Mimoko.

The other man paid Mimoko no heed and continued after the knight. Mimoko then noticed the pool of blood and began to grow queasy. She decided to head back to Iori and immediately bolted, though the two men continued to hover in her mind.

"Just who were those two, and why were they standing over a pool of blood? Are they police, actors? Or perhaps... Desperados?"

The full game:

White: Carol Cooke (569) Black: Sorcha Glas (777)

1. d4 d5

2. Nc3 c5

3. Bf4 cxd4

4. Qxd4 Nf6

5. Bxb8 Rxb8

6. O-O-O Bg4

7. Nf3 e5

8. Nxe5 Qb6

9. Qa4+ Bd7