Book excerpt: With tongue in cheek and laughter aforethought, Jerry Sohl takes his readers on a merry romp through all the deceits and tricks of one-upmanship as it is practiced in the game of chess. Drawing from his own experiences, he sets out in amusing detail a host of put-offs, come-ons, psychological maneuverings, lures, and frauds to accomplish checkmate. All illustrated with drawings by artist Roy Schlemme. The author's inventiveness is limitless. All kinds of ploys are carefully described: the amazing effectiveness of reverse polarity; adopting some of Bobby Fischer's tactics; the Freudian gambit; the Blencher; the Hassled Castle; befuddling rule fanatics; talking your way to victory; coffeehouse counter-gambits; when and how to lose; advanced duplicity; and chess of the last resort. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 1: THE FIRST MOVE 2: PRELIMINARIES AND PREPARATIONS 3: THE PROPER SPIRIT 4: HOW TO TALK A GOOD GAMBIT 5: HOW TO BEFUDDLE RULE FANATICS 6: HOW TO PLAY AGAINST WEIRDOS 7: COFFEEHOUSE CHESS COUNTERGAMBITS 8: WHEN TO LOSE 9: ADVANCED DUPLICITY 10: DESPERATE MOVES CHESS OF THE LAST RESORT APPENDIX: USEFUL TRIVIA