tsuntrader | Appointments Post

[...Well, okay. Why not. He'll try to see how long he can go while making the best decisions, then.]

[For his first game, and one with not even passing knowledge before this, Shikamaru thinks he's actually doing well. He's thinking about things, at least.

Still, it's Shikamaru. He subtly gets his knight in place, a move which shouldn't make sense until the end.]

[It really doesn't. Silver really has to think it over, but... It doesn't make sense at all.

And that's exactly why he focuses on it and thinks it over carefully. Is the knight there for a reason... Or is it just there to distract him?...]

[Shikamaru gives him plenty of time to think, eager to get the best kind of opposition he can. The real distraction, however, will come in a few turns with the Bishop he drops into play, threatening to take the King if it isn't moved.]

[And Silver has no choice but to move his King. But where? Which spot is the safest? He still doesn't trust that knight, so he needs to move it to a spot out of its reach, which isn't that difficult. Of course, running away from the knight seems like the most dangerous option, not the safest. Isn't that what Shikamaru would expect him to do? Then again, he might have different courses of action already planned out.

He'll still move his Ling towards Shikamaru's Knight. It moves in a specific manner, so he should be safe... For now, anyway.

...This is so much different than fun and games with Gold. There's so much more thinking involved.

[Now you see why he likes it. 8]

This goes on for a few more turns, with Shikamaru seemingly moving a few tokens without purpose until a stray move leaves a path open to one of his stronger pieces, which guards his King.]

[He sees the opportunity, and it's tempting to just take it, but... No, that seems too easy. Too convenient. Yeah, see? If he moves a piece there, he'll lose that, and this will open up...]

[Uh-huh. Well you have his attention over the rain, bro.]

[What rain? Silver's too invested in what he's doing, especially considering the cold hard rules of the game.]

[Just as planned, mwahaha. But in all seriousness, the more Silver looks at the board, he'll see there are other openings to capture one of Shikamaru's pieces. The token from before is the big bait, but there's some smaller but still useful pieces that have well-hidden weaknesses.

...and strategies for each, but still!]

[That suits his style better. He'll try to make his way to picking off smaller targets that he's sure he can take down with a favorable outcome.

Of course, what he considers a favorable outcome... Definitely isn't what he'll need to win this game. It's hard to put everything into a long term perspective.]

[Which is of course where Shikamaru's web begins to tighten, with a fast encroaching offense meant to steer certain pieces around.] Careful.

[It steers some pieces around, but not others. If anything, it might make the big pattern of his playing really obvious. He's keeping careful track of six pieces exactly, not including his King. He's a bit more careless about the rest of them.]

[Shikamaru's next two moves act as if to protect some of his more important pieces. Conveniently, they block the King's path in many directions, now that it's becoming defenseless.]

[Silver considers this for a moment. He gets that Shikamaru's staring to corner him and ruining his chances to escape. Whatever he does, he has to move his King.

And then he does what just might be a stupid move and starts moving offensively with his King. If it does absolutely nothing else, at least it might throw Shikamaru off long enough for him to come up with a better plan.]

[Except that's what he was waiting for. Once the King is out, Shikamaru drops a piece onto the board to cover the rear, so the King can no longer go back the way it came.]

[...Yep, he's just gonna keep calm and follow through with what he's doing for a while before considering changing strategies.]

[CONSIDER FASTER, LOOKS LIKE YOU SET OFF A TRAP BRO. THIS WOULD BE LIKE THE ROLLING BOULDER FROM INDIANA JONES, IF SHOGI TOKENS WERE BIGGER. AND NOT FLAT.]

[But- what- how did you- where did you- what do I- where do I-

...There's no need to keep going. It's not some competition with Gold. It's just a game. Better to stop now than to continue to fight a losing battle.]

[WHAT. DON'T TELL HIM YOU'RE QUITTING NOW. HE GOT ALL INVESTED AND AND AND--]

[He releases a breath, trying to curb that rare enthusiastic energy as his fingers twitch away from the board.]

It's customary to announce forfeit before the game is called.

[...But-]

Isn't it just a game? [Are you okay there, Shikamaru?]

Yeah, but a popular one, especially among old guys. They like the chance to bow out graciously versus sticking it through.

[...Are you subtly telling him he's acting like an old man over a game, Shikamaru?]

[What no, he's just spelling out tradition.]

...so?

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