October 29, 2013

I noticed in these chess problems how, like in Nabokov's writing, but perhaps not unique of chess problems generally, the most obvious move is not always the right one to complete the problem within the parameters. In problem five, as the description states, "the tempting discovered check on the fifth rank never materializes" (186). There are often red herrings, like in problem 14- the bishop on a 7 plays no part. The pieces, like in many problems, create the world, and in Nabokov's, the simple and unassuming pieces, like pawns, often play a large role. The obvious material gaining moves are not always the best. It's in the set up and in drawing black out.