The first time Douglas S. Martin played chess was in 1963.  At that time, the Martin family lived in Vacaville California in a small white country house with a large barn at the back of the property.  The house was out in the middle of the country surrounded for miles on all four sides by fields of barley.  

All of our friends lived in town, which meant we had nothing to do, but play games or watch television. Luckily, our parents provided us with an assortment of brothers and sisters to beat up on or play with.  That was good planning on their part.  Well, at last head count there were six of us three boys and three girls.  Ranging in age from sixteen to two.  James (the oldest) learned how to play Chess first.  Then James taught Alfred, Alfred taught me and I taught Douglas.  I was eleven at the time and Douglas was seven years of age. When I played Douglas I won all the time, but when I played James I lost.  When James played chess he was always the “king of the hill”.  

During that summer Douglas continued to acquire know-how and strategy when he played chess. I on the other hand had acquired nothing; I played like a pilot flying in the dark without instruments.  In fact it hurt to think so hard.  

Checkmate

     I remember the first time Douglas beat me at chess.  My pawn, knights, bishops, lay dead on the battlefield while Douglas’ realm closed in on me—then in a wink of an eye his queen traveled across the chessboard knocking my king into my lap. Douglas jumped up and yelled, “Checkmate”!  Then he grabbed my king from my hand held it over his head, and began dancing around in a circle making whooping noises.  He sure pissed me off!  His victory dance enraged me!  Whatever happened to good sportsmanship behavior?  His mocking continued…then he ran into the house shouting, “I won, I won, nah…nah…nah...nah”.  On and on it went.  Finally he calmed down and I told him it was “check”—not checkmate.  His eyes widen in disbelief, mouth dropped open…and his jubilee ended.  I in the meantime, I gave him the evil eye as only an older sister can then I snatch my king from his hand and placed it back on the board.  I took a few minutes to study the board before moving.  The only move left open to me did, indeed put me in checkmate.

     Seeing this I asked King Douglas for mercy for me, and my men, but he shunned me. I laid down my arms in surrender. This time it was Checkmate.  Douglas was Victorious!  Once again you ran into the house shouting, “I won, I won, nah…nah…nah...nah”.   It’s funny now, but back then it really made me mad!  At the age of seven Douglas won his first chess game.  I was dethroned, my chessmen were all put to death and I was guillotined. 

As we both grew older, Douglas’ skills improved in chess, mine didn’t.  He began to win two out of five games then three out of five games then four out of five games.  It was clear to me that he would be the next Napoleon of chess.  He knew how to divide and conquer.   I knew how to float in a lifejacket.  The defeats happened more frequently now and that was something I couldn’t stand, so I announced my retirement. I quit while I still had some dignity left.  After I stopped playing chess, Douglas moved on to more challenging opponents and as far as I know he’s still out there whooping it up! 

What Douglas does when he wins at any game!

The End

Written By: Cynthia Ellis Martin

Date: 5-28-99

For my dear brother Douglas S. Martin

Copyright © 2001 by Visions West Inc. All rights reserved.
Revised: 14 Mar 2002 08:29:21 -0800 .