By Douglas J. Lanzo
Copyright 2019

First published in Literary Yard, April 3, 2021

Gambit, exchange, sacrifice,
Veiled subterfuge to entice,
The relinquishment of position,
In return for short-lived attrition,

Conceiving multiple moves ahead,
Capricious impulse is put to bed,
Springing traps and double attacks,
Halting pawn storms in their tracks,

Developing pieces with precision,
Foreseeing weaknesses with great vision,
Seizing key squares, promoting to queen,
No pawn to spare, planning is pristine,

Deploying pieces to check his king,
Increasing options from which to spring,
An orchestrated fait accompli,
Leaving no quarter for him to flee.