The Double Houdini
Description:... The East Cheadle Chess Club is struggling to avoid humiliation against the more professional forces their players face in their local league. The arrival of two strong players encourages the captains of the first and second teams to claim at the start of the season that there is no longer such problems. However, as the teams continue to lose matches, they realize that their confidence has been unfounded. Their very existence as a club is threatened by defections as their teams slide towards demotion. "It will take Houdini to escape from this" Phil, the first team captain says. "Make that a Double Houdini" replies Paul, the second team captain. Author and chess fanatic Tudor Rickards finds himself embroiled in a real-life drama. To rescue the situation, the players have to recreate the feats of the great American escapologist. In doing so, they and he find themselves confronting far more disturbing problems than relegation to the lower regions of the league. Based on a true story, The Double Houdini is written for social chess players, and even for non- chess-players. It explores the humour, humanity and dilemmas of any community facing humiliation against stronger and more single-minded forces. Readers glimpse tensions between the old guard led by Major Max, and team captains seeking to improve playing standards. The Major complains of a drop in standards ("smart casual dress seems an oxymoron to me"). The beleagued captains aided by the benevolent President (The Dalai Lama) require all the positivity they can muster to maintain morale. There is a struggle against the pace of technological change, electronic clocks, failure to provide faciilties for juniors and lady members, and the unavailability of key players on extended holidays or recovering from hip replacements. The author, after a four move defeat discovers his own declining powers may be due to more than his advancing years. The struggle for survival in the league is further hampered as he detained during a hospital visit on a vital end-of-season clash.
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