Editing The Chessboard (Guide)

{{GuideFor|Location = The Chessboard|Pages = Positional Advantages#Determine the Endgame#Supervise the New Game#Colour at the Chessboard#Progress on the Board#Oversee the Middle Game#Strategic Weaknesses}}
{{Audience|EarlyParabola}}[[File:Pawn.png|right]]
{{ActivitySummary
|Activity=Chess at the Chessboard
|Length=Fixed
|Starting Actions=1
|Progress Actions=7
|Ending Actions=1
|Progress Details=Gain {{IL|Positional Advantages}} while minimising {{IL|Strategic Weaknesses}}.
|Output Items=*{{IL|Epaulette Mate}}
*{{IL|Queen Mate}}
*{{IL|Stalemate}}
*{{IL|Vital Intelligence}}
*{{IL|Well-Placed Pawn}}
*{{IL|Favours: Revolutionaries}}
*{{IL|Favours: The Great Game}}
*{{IL|Moves in the Great Game}}
*{{IL|Vienna Opening}}
|Boost Items=*{{IL|Vienna Opening}}
*{{IL|Vital Intelligence}}
*{{IL|Moves in the Great Game}}
*{{IL|Justificande Coin}}
*''{{IL|A Crooked Cross}}''
*''{{IL|The Boatman's Opponent}} 40''
*''{{IL|A List of Aliases, Writ in Gant}}''
*''{{IL|Society of the Three-Fingered Hand}}''
|Raw EPA = 4.32
|Raw SPA = 8.67
|Input Items=*{{IL|Justificande Coin}}
}}
The Chessboard is the part of Parabola where the Great Game plays out. It is a source for {{IL|Moves in the Great Game}}, {{IL|Vienna Opening}}s, {{IL|Well-Placed Pawn}}s, {{IL|Queen Mate}}s, {{IL|Epaulette Mate}}s, and {{IL|Stalemate}}s. It is also a good way to increase {{IL|A Player of Chess}}, and the only way to raise {{IL|A Player's Studies}}, increasing the cap on A Player of Chess.

== Novice ==
To reach the Chessboard, you first need a {{IL|Parabolan Base-Camp}}. For more info on this, see [[Parabola (Guide)]]. From there, you can [[Find the Moonlit Chessboard]], or [[Encounter a moonlit chessboard]] while hunting Parabolan beasts.

== Intermediate ==
[[File:Chesspiece.png|right]]

An important thing to consider in each match is what colour you will play. Which options you can take depend on your {{IL|Advancing the Liberation of Night:}}, and your colour unlocks related options both on the board and elsewhere. You can change colour at the start of each game, but only within the options allowed to you, or remain your current colour regardless of whether it would be allowed. [[Betray! Destroy! Take white down from the inside!]] will change your colour to Black, and failing to [[Turn one of their spies]] will change your colour to Red.

* Red is always available. It grants you +1 opening moves ([[Play a novel approach]]), and marks you as neutral. Beyond the Chessboard, it unlocks [[Tell her you side with Revolutionaries, but not Liberation of Night]] when talking to Furnace, as well as several cards that allow you to darken or light up areas in the upper river.

* White requires you to be advancing the Liberation slowly or not at all or betraying black. It grants you a +3 opening move ([[Open according to accepted best practices]]) and a -3 middle game move ([[Sabotage your side (White)]]), and marks you as aligned to the Judgements. It should be noted that you can only play the +3 move as your first move, the second move has to be something else. As a final move, it also unlocks [[Betray! Destroy! Take white down from the inside!]], which will change your colour to black and provides some favours. Beyond the Chessboard, it unlocks [[Challenge her about siding with Revolutionaries]], and cards that light up areas in the upper river.

* Black requires you to be advancing the Liberation less slowly or faster. It grants you a +0 opening move ([[Mirror white's opening]]) and a -3 middle game move ([[Sabotage your side (Black)]]), and marks you as aligned to the Liberation. Beyond the Chessboard, it unlocks [[Express your commitment to the Liberation of Night]], and options to darken the locations in the upper river.

For winning chess matches, red or white is recommended. However, when first encountering the Chessboard, your priority should be to increase your chess skills.

In your first few matches, you'll want to [[Follow the movements of the pieces]] to raise your {{IL|A Player of Chess}} in the beginning of the game. In the middle game, it doesn't much matter much what moves you make until you have it at a high level. If you end up ahead of your opponent, trying to get a {{IL|Queen Mate}} will both increase your {{IL|A Player of Chess}} as well as either give you a mate of {{IL|Well-Placed Pawn}}s. You might also [[Allow yourself to be sacrificed]], ending the game faster and getting {{IL|Justificande Coin|1 x}} in the bargain; this is a good move even later on if you mess up something needing a specific result. You might also go for a Strategic loss - see below for this.

Later on, once you have your Chess skills at a decent level, you can start playing to win. The result of the match is found by comparing {{IL|Positional Advantages}} to {{IL|Strategic Weaknesses}}. If you have more Advantages than Weaknesses, you can choose which kind of checkmate you will go for; otherwise, your only options are [[Offer a draw]] if you are even or [[Resign]].

=== A Strategic Loss ===
Once you reach APoC 5, you need {{IL|A Player's Studies}} 1, in order to increase you {{IL|A Player of Chess}} to 6. You need {{IL|Strategic Weaknesses|7 x}}, which you will probably get without trying. Simply [[Follow the movements of the pieces]] to gain 2. There are a few different ways to gain the other 5:

* Playing the hardest checks you can and fail. If you do succeed, you can always try to win instead.
* Play as White or Black, and [[Sabotage your side (Black)|Sabotage your side]]. This will give you 3 Weaknesses.

== Intermesso: Overview Table ==
This section contains tables outlining the moves available on The Chessboard
*All non-Endgame options increase {{IL|Progress on the Board}} unless noted otherwise
*Required items are consumed unless noted otherwise or profession/reward items
*Failures are not noted to avoid cluttering the table
*Choosing a colour isn't noted to avoid cluttering the table
*All Endgame options reset the board
*The cycle takes 9 actions plus any actions that don't increase {{IL|Progress on the Board}} (most commonly [[Recognise an opening]])

{| class="article-table sortable"
|+ <h3>The New Game ({{IL|Progress on the Board|Appearance=Progress}} 1-2)</h3> 
|-
! width="22%"|Move 
! width="21%"|Requirements 
! width="11%"|Challenge 
! width="10%"|{{IL|Positional Advantages|Appearance=Adv.}} 
! width="12%"|{{IL|Strategic Weaknesses|Appearance=Weak.}} 
! Notes
|-
| [[Mirror white's opening]] || {{IL|Colour at the Chessboard|Appearance=Colour}} 2 (Black) || {{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}} 3 || 0 || 0 || 
|-
| [[Open according to accepted best practices]] || {{IL|Colour at the Chessboard|Appearance=Colour}} 3 (White)<br/>{{IL|Progress on the Board|Appearance=Progress}} exactly 1|| {{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}} 2 || 3 || 0 || 
|-
| [[Play a novel approach]] || {{IL|Colour at the Chessboard|Appearance=Colour}} 1 (Red) || {{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}} 2 || 1 || 0 || 
|-
| [[Open with a strong move]] || {{IL|Vienna Opening|1 x}} || None || 4 || 0 ||
|-
| [[Recognise an opening]] || {{IL|Vital Intelligence|1 x}} || None || 0 || 0 || Doesn't increase {{IL|Progress on the Board|Appearance=Progress}}<br>{{IL|Vienna Opening|6 x}}
|-
| [[Follow the movements of the pieces]] || None || {{IL|Watchful|Appearance=}} 200 || 0 || 1 || {{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC|+2 CP}}, more on rare success
|-
| [[Recognise an opening because of your professional affiliations]] || {{IL|Shrine to Saint Joshua}} (Midnighter)<br/>{{IL|Progress on the Board|Appearance=Progress}} exactly 1 || None || 0 || 0 || {{IL|Vienna Opening|1 x}}
|-
| [[Open with a familiar move – then deviate]] || {{IL|Opening Novelty}} (From the Khanate) || {{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}} 5 || 4 || 0 || Gives {{IL|Positional Advantages|Appearance=Advantage|1 x}} on failure
|-
| [[Search for a sign of your enemy]] || {{IL|Traces of Veils the Intriguer}} 1 ({{IL|Ambition: Bag a Legend!}})|| None || 1 || 0 || {{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC|+1 CP}}
|}

{| class="article-table sortable"
|+ <h3>The Middle Game ({{IL|Progress on the Board|Appearance=Progress}} 3-7)</h3>
|-
! width="18%"|Move 
! Requirements 
! width="11%"|Challenge 
! width="10%"|{{IL|Positional Advantages|Appearance=Adv.}} 
! width="12%"|{{IL|Strategic Weaknesses|Appearance=Weak.}}
! width="23%"|Notes
|-
| [[Contemplate a losing position]] || {{IL|Strategic Weaknesses|Appearance=Weaknesses}} > {{IL|Positional Advantages|Appearance=Advantages}} || None || 0 || 0 || Doesn't increase {{IL|Progress on the Board|Appearance=Progress}}<br>{{IL|Nightmares|+1 CP}}
|-
| [[Contemplate a perfectly equal position]] || {{IL|Strategic Weaknesses|Appearance=Weaknesses}} = {{IL|Positional Advantages|Appearance=Advantages}} || None || 0 || 0 || Doesn't increase {{IL|Progress on the Board|Appearance=Progress}}
|-
| [[Contemplate a winning position]] || {{IL|Strategic Weaknesses|Appearance=Weaknesses}} < {{IL|Positional Advantages|Appearance=Advantages}} || {{IL|Luck|Appearance=}} 50% || 0 || 0 || Doesn't increase {{IL|Progress on the Board|Appearance=Progress}}<br>{{IL|Nightmares|-1 CP}} on success
|-
| [[Make a move you know will work]] || {{IL|Moves in the Great Game|1 x}} || None || 1 || 0 ||
|-
| [[Play aggressively]] || None || {{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}} 3 || 3 || 0 ||
|-
| [[Play defensively]] || None || {{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}} 4 || 0 || -1 || {{IL|Wounds|-1 CP}} on alternative success
|-
| [[Play a move you learned from the Boatman]] || {{IL|The Boatman's Opponent}} 40<br>{{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}} 2 || {{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}} 6 || 5 || 0 ||
|-
| [[Turn one of their spies]] || {{IL|A Crooked Cross}} (Crooked-Cross) || {{IL|Persuasive|Appearance=}} 200 || 3 || 0 ||
|-
| [[Kill another of your kind, in passing]] || {{IL|A List of Aliases, Writ in Gant}} (Licentiate)<br>{{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}} 2 || {{IL|Dangerous|Appearance=}} 200 || 3 || 0 ||
|-
| [[Use your people however proves necessary]] || {{IL|Justificande Coin|1 x}} || None || 0 || 1 || {{IL|Moves in the Great Game|2 x}}
|-
| [[Sabotage your side (Black)]] || {{IL|A Player of Chess}} 2<br>{{IL|Colour at the Chessboard|Appearance=Colour}} 2 (Black) || None || 0 || 3 || {{IL|Advancing the Liberation of Night:|-3 CP}}
|-
| [[Sabotage your side (White)]] || {{IL|A Player of Chess}} 2<br>{{IL|Colour at the Chessboard|Appearance=Colour}} 3 (White) || None || 0 || 3 || {{IL|Advancing the Liberation of Night:|+3 CP}}
|-
| [[Allow yourself to be sacrificed]] || {{IL|Progress on the Board|Appearance=Progress}} 5 || None || 0 || 0 || {{IL|Justificande Coin|1 x}}<br>Resets the chessboard
|-
| [[Take advantage of your Intelligence]] || {{IL|Vital Intelligence|1 x}} || None || 7 || 0 ||
|-
| [[Obliterate your weaknesses]] || {{IL|Society of the Three-Fingered Hand}} ({{IL|Ambition: Bag a Legend!}})<br>{{IL|Progress on the Board|Appearance=Progress}} exactly 7 || None || 0 || Removes all ||
|}

{| class="article-table sortable"
|+ <h3>The Endgame ({{IL|Progress on the Board|Appearance=Progress}} 8)</h3> 
|-
! width="18%"|End Result 
! Requirements 
! width="11%"|Challenge 
! width="23%"|Rewards 
! width="22%"|Notes
|-
| [[Choose an epaulette mate]] || {{IL|Positional Advantages|Appearance=Advantages}} > {{IL|Strategic Weaknesses|Appearance=Weaknesses}} || {{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}} 6 || {{IL|Epaulette Mate|1 x}}<br>{{IL|Well-Placed Pawn|Appearance=Pawns}}<br>{{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC|+1 CP}} || {{IL|Well-Placed Pawn|Appearance=Pawns}} scale with {{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}}
|-
| [[Choose a queen mate]] || {{IL|Positional Advantages|Appearance=Advantages}} > {{IL|Strategic Weaknesses|Appearance=Weaknesses}} || {{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}} 4 || {{IL|Queen Mate|1 x}}<br>{{IL|Well-Placed Pawn|Appearance=Pawns}}<br>{{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC|+1 CP}} || {{IL|Well-Placed Pawn|Appearance=Pawns}} scale with {{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}}
|-
| [[Offer a draw]] || {{IL|Positional Advantages|Appearance=Advantages}} = {{IL|Strategic Weaknesses|Appearance=Weaknesses}} || None || {{IL|Threefold Repetition|1 x}}<br>{{IL|Well-Placed Pawn|Appearance=Pawns}}||{{IL|Well-Placed Pawn|Appearance=Pawns}} scale with {{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}}
|-
| [[Stalemate (Action)|Stalemate]] || {{IL|Positional Advantages|Appearance=Advantages}} = {{IL|Strategic Weaknesses|Appearance=Weaknesses}}<br>{{IL|Threefold Repetition|2 x}} || None || {{IL|Stalemate|1 x}}<br>{{IL|Vital Intelligence|1 x}}||
|-
| [[Force a Stalemate]] || 1 ≤ {{IL|Strategic Weaknesses|Appearance=Weaknesses}} < {{IL|Positional Advantages|Appearance=Advantages}}<br>{{IL|Parabolan Dominance}} exactly 4<br>{{IL|Well-Placed Pawn|360 x}} || None || {{IL|Stalemate|1 x}} ||
|-
| [[Resign]] || None || None || None ||
|-
| [[Recognise new possibilities in the depth of your loss]] || {{IL|Strategic Weaknesses|Appearance=Weaknesses}} 7<br>No {{IL|A Player's Studies}} || None || {{IL|A Player's Studies}} 1<br>({{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}} cap becomes 6) ||
|-
| [[Recognise new possibilities in the height of your win]] ||{{IL|Positional Advantages|Appearance=Advantages}} 23<br>{{IL|Strategic Weaknesses|Appearance=Weaknesses}} < 7<br>{{IL|A Player's Studies}} 1 || None || {{IL|A Player's Studies}} 2<br>({{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}} cap becomes 7) ||
|-
| [[Betray! Destroy! Take white down from the inside!]] || {{IL|Advancing the Liberation of Night:}}<br>{{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}} 4<br>{{IL|Colour at the Chessboard|Appearance=Colour}} 3 (White) || None || {{IL|Favours: Revolutionaries|3 x}} || {{IL|Advancing the Liberation of Night:|+50 CP}}<br>{{IL|Steadfast|-5 CP}}<br>{{IL|Colour at the Chessboard|Appearance=Colour}} changes to 2 (Black)
|-
| [[Betray! Destroy! Take black down from the inside!]] || {{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}} 4<br>{{IL|Colour at the Chessboard|Appearance=Colour}} 2 (Black) || None || {{IL|Favours: The Great Game|3 x}} || {{IL|Advancing the Liberation of Night:|-45 CP}}<br>{{IL|Steadfast|-5 CP}}<br>{{IL|Colour at the Chessboard|Appearance=Colour}} changes to 3 (White)
|}

== Master ==
[[File:Chesspiecebuttered.png|right]]

Once you're familiar with the basics of the Game, you can start working toward specific goals on the board. First, try to decide what kind of endgame you want.

{| class="article-table"
! Action 
! width="18%"|{{IL|Positional Advantages|Appearance=Advantages}} 
! width="19%"|{{IL|Strategic Weaknesses|Appearance=Weaknesses}}
! width="16%"|Total Score<ref name=ref1>Your score is your {{IL|Positional Advantages|Appearance=Advantages}}-{{IL|Strategic Weaknesses|Appearance=Weaknesses}}.</ref>
|-
| [[Resign]] || Any || Any || Any
|-
| [[Choose an epaulette mate]] || At least 1<ref name=ref2>Not a strict requirement, but computed from other requirements.</ref>|| Any || Positive
|-
| [[Choose a queen mate]] || At least 1<ref name=ref2 />|| Any || Positive 
|-
| [[Offer a draw|Draw]] / [[Stalemate (Action)|Stalemate]] || At least 1 || At least 1<ref name=ref2 />|| Exactly zero
|-
| [[Recognise new possibilities in the depth of your loss]] || Any || At least 7 || Any
|-
| [[Recognise new possibilities in the height of your win]] || At least 23 || At most 6 || At least 17<ref name=ref2 />
[[Category:Guides]]
|}
<references />

With this in mind, you can start tailoring your strategy toward specific endings.

You have two opening moves before you reach the midgame.

* You can gain {{IL|Vienna Opening|6 x}} by spending {{IL|Vital Intelligence|1 x}}, or by having a {{IL|Shrine to Saint Joshua}}. Vital Intelligence will gain you more Openings, but the Midnighter's Opening costs only time. Each Opening can be spent in the opening moves of a game (including future games) for +4 score.
* Following the movements of the pieces can increase your chess skills, and possibly gain you {{IL|Incisive Observation|1 x}}, at the cost of -1 score. It's only suggested if you need to improve your game, or if you're deliberately playing to lose.
* If you don't have any Openings to spend and aren't interested in gaining any, [[Open with a familiar move]] is strictly better than the other options, though with the retirement of social chess, it is now permanently off-limits to characters who do not have enough {{IL|Chess: Mastery of the Game|Appearance=mastery}}. Of the default openings, White has the best (potential +3), Red second-best (potential +1) and Black the worst (potential +0). Such are the privileges of the Establishment, and the perils of the Liberation.

Once in the midgame, you have five moves before the game ends.

* If your chess skills are poor and you have {{IL|Moves in the Great Game}} to spend, you can get +1 with a move you know will work. {{IL|Vital Intelligence}} can also get you +7.
* Playing aggressively will gain you +3 on a success and -3 on a failure. A Crooked-Cross or Licentiate can use their special moves for the same benefit, risking only -1 and Wounds or a forced change of colour.
* If you have been {{IL|The Boatman's Opponent}} for a long time, his move will gain you +5 or -5.
* If you have too many Weaknesses for your intended goal, playing defensively will remove one. It will not gain you any Advantages. If you are a member of the {{IL|Society of the Three-Fingered Hand}}, you can set your Weaknesses to 0 at your final move.
* When playing to lose as Black or White, you can sabotage your own side for -3. You can also [[use your people however proves necessary]] to gain {{IL|Moves in the Great Game|2 x}} and 1 Weakness, while costing {{IL|Justificande Coin|1 x}} .
* If your goal is unreachable, allowing yourself to be sacrificed will reset the game and give you {{IL|Justificande Coin|1 x}} as consolation. This is not counted as a loss, so if you're playing to lose you shouldn't do this.

== Grand Master ==
[[File:Boatman.png|right]]
This section is for specific calculations.

=== Can I Still Win? ===
You can (theoretically) win using only the listed move as long as your score is at least the number listed. Whether you can actually win depends on your luck and level of {{IL|A Player of Chess}}, so use your judgement.
{| class="article-table"
! Using Move... !! 5 Moves Left !! 4 Moves Left !! 3 Moves Left !! 2 Moves Left !! 1 Move Left
|-
|[[Take advantage of your Intelligence]]<ref name=ref3>Costs an item.</ref> (+7) || -34 || -27 || -20 || -13 || -6
|- 
|[[Play a move you learned from the Boatman]] (+5) || -24 || -19 || -14 || -9 || -4
|-
|[[Play aggressively]], [[Turn one of their spies]]<ref name=ref4>Requires a specific Profession.</ref>, [[Kill another of your kind, in passing]]<ref name=ref4 /> (+3) || -14 || -11 || -8 || -5 || -2
|-
|[[Make a move you know will work|Make a move you know will work]]<ref name=ref3 />,[[Play defensively|Play defensively]]<ref name=ref5>Only if you already have at least one [[Positional Advantages]].</ref> (+1) || -4 || -3 || -2 || -1 || 0
|-
|[[Use your people however proves necessary]]<ref name=ref3 /> (-1) || 6 || 5 || 4 || 3 || 2
|-
|[[Sabotage your side (Black)]], [[Sabotage your side (White)]] (-3) || 16 || 13 || 10 || 7 || 4
|}

<references />

Remember that if you [[Allow yourself to be sacrificed]], you will not see the endgame and cannot trade in your loss.

=== A Great Triumph ===
In order to reach {{IL|A Player's Studies}} 2, you need to win your match overwhelmingly. You need {{IL|Positional Advantages|23 x}} and no more than {{IL|Strategic Weaknesses|6 x}}. To get your 23 Advantages, assuming that your opening moves succeed:

* Spending {{IL|Vienna Opening|2 x}} will get you +8 regardless of colour, leaving 15. This will allow you to succeed using only +3 moves. If you can get {{IL|A Player of Chess}} to 8, [[Play aggressively]] is automatic.
* Spending 1, you can start at +5-7 unless you play Black, leaving 16-18. White will need to succeed in a +5 move. Red will need to succeed in 2, or spend {{IL|Vital Intelligence}}.
* Spending 1 as Black, you will start at +4, leaving 19. You need to succeed in two +5 moves, or spend Vital Intelligence.
* Spending 0, you can start at +2-6 unless you play Black, leaving 17-21. White still needs to succeed in a +5 move. Red needs to succeed in 3, succeed in 1 and spend 1 Intelligence, or spend 2 Intelligence.
* Spending 0 as Black, you start at 0 and need to earn all 23 points in the mid-game. This requires four +5 moves, two +5 moves and 1 Intelligence, or 2 Intelligence.

Recovering from a failed +3 move requires 1 Vital Intelligence or two +5 moves, and two failed +3 moves requires a +5 move and 1 Vital Intelligence. Recovering from a failed +5 move requires 3 Vital Intelligence. Recovering from more than this is not possible.

If you are willing to commit to spending two {{IL|Vital Intelligence}}, play as white and start by [[Open according to accepted best practices]] and then anything else (the choice should not matter; just don't spend your {{IL|Vital Intelligence}}). In the midgame [[Play aggressively|Play Aggressively]] three times. If you fail two or more checks at any point (except the one you wasted to leave the early game), sacrifice yourself and start over. But if you have succeeded in all or all but one check by the time you reach {{IL|Progress on the Board}} 5, spend your {{IL|Vital Intelligence}} by [[Take advantage of your Intelligence|Taking Advantage of Your Intelligence]] twice. This will take you to exactly {{IL|Positional Advantages|23 x}} with the minimal amount of echoes/RNG involved.

=== Forcing a Stalemate ===
Stalemates are somewhat tricky as well, since you need to have a score of ''exactly'' zero, and you have to do this thrice. If you're aiming for a stalemate, you need to carefully plan your actions. Make sure you can pass every {{IL|A Player of Chess}} challenge that your plan calls for.

The mathematics of the board are such that you can only cheaply produce a stalemate if you begin the middle game with either an odd score or with no Weaknesses. Generally this means you should start with an opening move with an even score, and play an odd-score move with your other opening move. (Exceptions to this rule exist, but are more complex and often more expensive; see below.)

The following sequences have a total score of zero, and any combination of them will produce a zero game. Keep in mind that in order to actually count as a stalemate, you must have at least one positive move other than [[Play defensively]].

'''Cheesemonger's Gambit''' (costs {{IL|Vienna Opening|1 x}}, requires ''Black'' or ''White'')

#[[Follow the movements of the pieces]] (-1)
#[[Open with a strong move]] (+4)
#[[Sabotage your side (Black)|Sabotage your side]] (-3)

'''Irrigo Veil Opening''' (either requires {{IL|Shrine to Saint Joshua}}, {{IL|Traces of Veils the Intriguer}}, or ''Black'')

#Use a "do nothing" move ([[Recognise an opening because of your professional affiliations]], [[Search for a sign of your enemy]], [[Mirror white's opening]]) (+0)
#[[Follow the movements of the pieces]] (-1) or use another "do nothing" move (+0)
#[[Play defensively]] (+1, or +0 if no Weaknesses are in play)

'''Down the Well''' (costs {{IL|Justificande Coin|1 x}})

#[[Use your people however proves necessary]] (-1)
#[[Play defensively]] (+1)

'''Slaughterhouse Offense''' (costs {{IL|Justificande Coin|3 x}})

#[[Play aggressively]] (+3)
#[[Use your people however proves necessary]] (-1)
#[[Use your people however proves necessary]] (-1)
#[[Use your people however proves necessary]] (-1)

'''Contrarian's Deadlock''' (requires ''White'' or ''Black'')

#[[Play aggressively]] (+3)
#[[Sabotage your side (White)|Sabotage your side]] (-3)

====More Expensive Stalemates====
These sequences are inferior for an experienced Player of Chess, but may be worthwhile for one who has not yet raised {{IL|A Player of Chess|Appearance=APoC}} high enough to 100%, as they rely on fewer checks and ones which are relatively reliable with {{IL|A Player of Chess|6-7|Appearance=APoC}}. At even higher cost, {{IL|Vital Intelligence}} may be turned into the necessary {{IL|Vienna Opening|Appearance=Vienna Openings}} for one extra action.

'''Vienna Sabotage''' (costs {{IL|Vienna Opening|1 x}} and requires ''Black'' or ''White''; if ''White'', also requires {{IL|Shrine to Saint Joshua}}, {{IL|Traces of Veils the Intriguer}})
#Use a "do nothing" move ([[Recognise an opening because of your professional affiliations]], [[Search for a sign of your enemy]], [[Mirror white's opening]]) (+0)
#[[Open with a strong move]] (+4)
#[[Play defensively]] (+0)
#[[Sabotage your side (White)|Sabotage your side]] (-3)
#[[Play defensively]] (+1)
#[[Play defensively]] (+1)
#[[Sabotage your side (White)|Sabotage your side]] (-3)

'''Double Vienna''' (costs {{IL|Vienna Opening|2 x}}, requires ''Black'' or ''White'')
#[[Open with a strong move]] (+4)
#[[Open with a strong move]] (+4)
#[[Play defensively]] (+0)
#[[Sabotage your side (White)|Sabotage your side]] (-3)
#[[Play defensively]] (+1)
#[[Sabotage your side (White)|Sabotage your side]] (-3)
#[[Sabotage your side (White)|Sabotage your side]] (-3)

====With a Woesel====
This strategy is side agnostic and free, but requires you to have {{IL|A Player of Chess}} 9 and a {{IL|Weasel of Woe}}.
# Equip Your passing equipment
# Pass [[Follow the movements of the pieces]]
# Pass [[Follow the movements of the pieces]]
# Equip your Weasel of Woe
# Fail [[Play defensively]]
# Fail [[Play aggressively]]
# Equip your passing equipment
# Pass [[Play aggressively]]
# Pass [[Play defensively]]
# Pass [[Play defensively]]

[[Category:Guides]]