The Food Court,
Farrar normally orders a foot long chicken breast sandwich from Subway with spinach, black olives, Swiss, and spicy mustard. Today, for some reason, he added Jalapenos.
As is customary when hitting the Food Court, Chess must be played. Farrar and Speth had already played their scheduled round robin match with a victory going to JF. It was decided (luckily for the Chairman), that today's match would not "count". After all, the winless Speth did not need his rating to plummet yet further. Both players agreed; the mentor would play the "student" for the fun of the game.
The so called "fun" was over very quickly for "Mr. Know-It-All". After Speth placed a Knight on the edge which was quickly traded by Farrar's King's Bishop, leaving Speth with awkward doubled A pawns, "The Teach" felt in control. But then, like out of sometype of Passion Play, Speth boldly marched a center pawn deep into Farrar's turf. Speth, seeing a solid post for his knight, capitalized and planted the horse deep.
But, JF had years of experience, hundreds of kids taught, Grandmaster's played under his belt. He knew that Speth's pawn structure was severely broken. An end game should be relatively easy to win.
Then, after much jockeying and trade offers, the unthinkable happened. On move 34, Farrar writes a move down, "Rf2" to protect his second rank. He is about to make the move and stops…. NO, that would invite a back rank mate with Re1+. He quickly scratches the mistake out. "I need to use my Queen side pawn structure advantage… best to take the hanging a-pawn to loosen up Speth's structure further." And that was the last thought that entered Farrar's mind.
The ill capture was made. Speth (in near faint) shot his Rook to e1.
There was no escape. No retreat. No block that could not be simply taken with mate. Farrar studied…. studied….. nothing.
With a flick of his finger, the White king was on it's side. Like Nixon, resignation in total humiliation.
The "teacher" was "taught". Speth's victory, albeit hollow in the standings, was as real as they come.
Farrar - Speth : 0-1 (and no more formal lessons)
Congrats to Speth… a victory well earned!!!