It’s a tough one, John. If you set up a space of possible strategies, from
verkrampte at one end (i.e., playing all out against the lad, conceding
him nothing) to verligte at the other (throw all games to build his
self-esteem), then I am well towards the verkrampte end, as you would
expect of a philosophical conservative. You know what we conservatives are
like: rule-dominated, desperate for certitude, pitiless towards the
underdog. I certainly don’t throw games. I often “play dumb,” though –
pretending I haven’t seen good moves, or threats from his pieces. It helps
that I am not actually very good at strategy games. Even if I played all
out, Danny would win around one game in eight or ten. As it is, he wins
about one in three.