(!) , (!) , (!)

The marks above come from chess notation { (!) }

I was very good at chess as a boy. Then, as in a number of things mathematical, I hit a wall.

I played a few years ago in California. I cleaned up.

Then, feeling my oats, I played in a game in Washington --- with time cloks. I was wiped out.

My father used to spot me a Rook. Later a Queen (!) . Well into his Eighties (!)

There are grandmasters who will play 24 good players samultaneously--- blinfolded. They win most or all of the games (!)

Ben (!)