"I find that chess is very useful when travelling alone in Turkey. ...Take yourself to the nearest teahouse. Order a glass of tea, and another or Raki, and set up a chess problem. Within seconds Turks will appear. they won't play chess with you, but it starts a conversation. "I did this once and someone asked, "Can I practise my English with you?" His first question was: "How many princesses have you slept with?" So now you see the point of chess."
Quotes
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XLVIX."'Tis all a Chequer-board of Nights and DaysWhere Destiny with Men for Pieces plays:Hither and thither moves, and mates, and slays,And one by one back in the Closet lays. "Rubaiyat of Omar KhayyamRendered into English Verse by Edward Fitzgerald, First Editionhttp://www.teachersoft.com/Library/poetry/fitzgrld/chapt01.htm"Impotent Pieces of the Game He playsUpon this Chequer-board of Nights and Days; |
Fifth edition, http://www.nmaa.si.edu/vedder/slide37p.html There are other editions, and other translations, but none, I think, on the Web. |