The crowd turned their eyes towards Arabella, a mix of envy, frustration, and jealousy simmering in their gaze.
Bagging a compliment from Mr. Albright was something many had only dreamed of!
"Mr. Albright, is there really a solution to this puzzle?" someone asked with a hint of grievance in their voice, "How do you know she
can solve it?"
Eugene, with a gleam in his eye and a smile playing on his lips, said, "The puzzle was crafted by her own hand; of course, she can
solve it."
"But who's to say she didn't just scribble something random?"
"If she really did draw it, maybe she's known the answer all along."
"Mr. Albright, does she even understand chess? If she's that good, why not have her demonstrate for us?"
"Yeah, we've got time. How about it, miss? Show us how to solve this game."
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"l want to see this."
too."
The crowd was skeptical. How could this young lady outshine many chess masters present and unravel such a complex game?
Eugene looked at Arabella with a smile and gracefully gestured for her to take a seat at the chessboard.
Arabella knew that Grandpa Eugene wanted her to dazzle the crowd, to blind them with her brilliance.
Although she found the whole show a bit childish, it was the old man's birthday, so she decided to indulge him.
Settling into her seat, Arabella said, "Assuming I'm playing white, my first move would be here."
As Arabella placed a white piece on the board, Mr. Albright swiftly captured the surrounding pieces.
Arabella continued with her second move, then the third, and the fourth. As expected, each was swiftly countered.
The crowd was befuddled.
"Do you even know what you're doing?"
"Is this supposed to be impressive? Anyone can make these moves. Are you messing with us?"
"It was an even game, but after your four moves, you've lost quite a few pieces. With your strategy, even someone clueless about
chess could chere and play randomly."
"You're ruining a perfectly good game."
"We thought you were skilled."
They had expected prowess but found her first four moves easily countered.
Was this it? And she aspired to be Mr. Albright's protege?
These were the reactions Arabella wanted. She made her fifth move, still seemingly at a disadvantage.
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Then cthe sixth, the seventh, the eighth.
The grumbling in the crowd ceased, replaced by shock and awe.
Only now did they begin to comprehend Arabella's initial five moves; each one was a trap.
She had sacrificed pieces deliberately, luring her opponent into a false sense of security. As the opponent unwittingly fell deeper
into her web, she was safeguarding her other pieces and setting up further snares.
By the ther opponent realized what was happening, it was too late. Arabella had anticipated each of their moves well in
advance.
The crowd watched as Arabella's plan unfolded, her counterattacks swift and decisive, like a predator that had been lying in wait,
suddenly pouncing on its prey with ferocity.
In less than five minutes, the outcbecclear; white had taken a commanding lead, leaving black in disarray.
Three minutes later, white emerged victorious, and everyone in the room inhaled sharply at the sight.