The Inheritance Games, #3
The Final Gambit
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Contents
CHAPTER 83
Overview
Avery defeats Vincent Blake in their final chess match after revealing that her earlier loss to Eve was a deliberate hustle. Blake realizes too late that Avery is his equal, concedes, and publicly acknowledges her victory.
The win matters because Avery’s whole bargain depends less on legal enforcement than on Blake’s willingness to honor a true defeat. By beating him at his own game, Avery secures the outcome Tobias Hawthorne had anticipated.
Summary
Vincent Blake lets Avery play white, giving Avery the first move. Avery opens with the Queen’s Gambit, and for the first dozen moves Blake appears to believe Avery is relying on standard chess strategy.
As the game develops, Avery’s deeper plan becomes clear. Blake takes Avery’s bishop, but that move allows Avery to execute a sequence that ends with Avery taking Blake’s queen, proving Avery’s instincts and preparation go beyond the obvious.
Blake realizes that Avery deliberately misled him by losing to Eve earlier. Avery has hustled Blake, and by the time Blake understands that Avery is a far stronger opponent than expected, Avery has trapped him.
Two moves before Avery’s predicted victory, Blake sees the inevitable outcome. Blake stands, tips his king, and concedes the match, meaning Avery has won the final chess gambit and forced Blake to honor the stakes.
Avery tells Blake that Blake can keep the extravagant chess set, but Avery knows the legal agreement cannot truly force Blake to stop targeting the Hawthornes. Avery has relied on Tobias Hawthorne’s assurance that Blake will respect being beaten. When Eve demands to know what happened, Blake confirms the decisive result: Avery won.
Who Appears
- Avery Kylie GrambsDefeats Vincent Blake at chess after deliberately hiding her true skill in the prior match.
- Vincent BlakeUnderestimates Avery, realizes the hustle too late, and concedes the decisive chess match.
- EveWitnesses the reversal and demands an explanation after Avery’s unexpected victory over Blake.