He darted a suspicious glance at her. "That is not your kind of question," he said sternly. "Exactly what have you been up to?" Sandra confessed that she had asked Dave to teach her how to play chess. "I knew those children would corrupt you," Doc said somberly. "Look, my dear, if you learn to play chess you won't be able to write your clever little articles about it. Besides, as I warned you the first day, chess is a madness. Women are ordinarily immune, but that doesn't justify you taking chances with your sanity." "But I've kind of gotten interested, watching the tournament," Sandra objected. "At least I'd like to know how the pieces move." "Stop!" Doc commanded. "You're already in danger. Direct your mind somewhere else. Ask me a sensible, down-to-earth journalist's question--something completely irrational!" "Okay, why didn't Simon Great have the Machine set to play the openings fast in the first three games?" "Hah! I think Great plays Lasker-chess in his programming. He hides his strength and tries to win no more easily than he has to, so he will have resources in reserve. The Machine loses to Lysmov and immediately starts playing more strongly--the psychological impression made on the other players by such tactics is formidable." "But the Machine isn't ahead yet?" "No, of course not. After four rounds Lysmov is leading the tournament with 3-1/2--1/2, meaning 3-1/2 in the win column and 1/2 in the loss column...." "How do you half win a game of chess? Or half lose one?" Sandra interrupted. "By drawing a game--playing to a tie. Lysmov's 3-1/2--1/2 is notational shorthand for three wins and a draw. Understand? My dear, I don't usually have to explain things to you in such detail." "I just didn't want you to think I was learning too much about chess." "Ho! Well, to get on with the score after four rounds, Angler and Votbinnik both have 3--1, while the Machine is bracketed at 2-1/2--1-1/2 with Jal. But the Machine has created an impression of strength, as if it were all set to come from behind with a rush." He shook his head. "At the moment, my dear," he said, "I feel very pessimistic about the chances of neurons against relays in this tournament. Relays don't panic and fag. But the oddest thing...." "Yes?" Sandra prompted. "Well, the oddest thing is that the Machine doesn't play 'like a machine' at all. It uses dynamic strategy, the kind we sometimes call 'Russian', complicating each position as much as possible and creating maximum tension. But that too is a matter of the programming...." * * * * * Doc's foreboding was fulfilled as round followed hard-fought round. In the next five days (there was a weekend recess) the Machine successively smashed Jandorf, Serek and Jal and after seven rounds was out in front by a full point.