Valthermond I – SISSA sisters

Si(s)nter(s)klaas

Sinterklaas finished but Christmas is around the corner 

This monday evening starts at Ella’s for a nice dinner.

I know I say evening, but really it’s not even 6

I am still getting used to some of these dutch classics.

It’s cold, it’s dark it’s freezing, and the light of the car is broken

We also forgot our pink queens, the sisters favorite token.

Finally, we reach Valthermond. Who in their right mind would do that this season?

I’d believe that playing chess for the sisters team is a good reason.

Sophie probably thought the same last week when she went on her own,

Her game ended in a loss, I hope it was not to set the tone.

Or maybe she just wanted to let the 5 of us squeeze in her car

While the rest of SISSA happily enjoys tonight playing in the bar.

Ten minutes before the game, our opponents – 5 Santas-like figures – welcome us,

They made a very confusing board order, but let’s not make a fuss.

While I’m glad for the sisters team, I’m forced to acknowledge that it raises a big issue:

When we have to use the washroom, at chess I’m usually not used to queue. 

Eventually, everyone is ready, and we start on time,

Or maybe not, I have no clue, but I needed an extra rhyme. 

I start the clock and on move 2 my opponent takes forever,

Since I have 0 patience I just go wander. 

On board 6,

Ella surprises me with a (too?) quickly played f6.

On board 5, 

Carolina takes her time but seems to thrive.

On board 4, 

I still don’t know what my opponent is waiting for

On board 3,

Rosaline gets a solid castle while her opponent’s king is still free.

On board 2,

We wish that Sophie didn’t hang a piece last week – she’d have preferred that too.

On board uno,

Femke still has all her pieces and seems better, but what do I know?

Finally my opponent is playing,

Or maybe I’m just getting used to all the waiting.

There’s this nice lady who keeps pouring us tea,

Quite convenient that she doesn’t mention the fee.

Somehow, there’s already 2 connected pawns about to promote for Ella’s opponent

And a loss for our second Welling twin becomes the next logical event.

She’s our driver, so I can only hope that she’ll wait,

Especially that the rest of us are terrible at speeding up our chess fate.

While Carolina is handling a scary position very gracefully,

Rosaline’s opponent is making it tricky. 

She lacks space, unlike Femke’s pieces.

Meanwhile, I shouldn’t have let my opponent do as he pleases.

I get a draw offer, but all our boards are still unsure.

Our boards 1 and 3 remain a blur.

I get another draw offer, this time can I start to hope?

Carolina is winning a pawn and her position is dope.

The third draw offer comes by, but the rest is still playing,

If only Femke didn’t have to start trading. 

Once again Rosaline did some magic,

And her opponent misses one piece – what tragic.

I stopped counting the draw offers because there’s too many,

Femke’s position is stuck, so she just takes the halfje, that’s lucky,

On 5, Carolina lost a pawn, and her position worsens

But on 3 Rosaline happily looks for checkmate patterns.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t keep my connected passers,

I think I still have winning chances, provided I make no blunders.

Eventually, Rosaline – what a woman! – brings a full point to our team,

But I have to keep refusing the draw, breaking my opponent’s dream.

Behind me, Carolina is 1-pawn-1-rook against 2-connected pawns-1 rook

Both of them have little time left, so maybe she can get off the hook.

On my board, I can’t see how to avoid the 3 fold so finally I ask « Remise? »

Would you believe that this time, my opponent hesitate before taking it? Jeez.

The rook trade is the wrong choice for Carolina, 

But while we all thought her opponent would keep pushing « a »

He messes up, but unfortunately she does too

Finally, the sisters go home with their final score of …

🌺🎄

By Aurore.