The Dantès Gambit

Edmond Dantès learned chess in a cell, from a priest who had nothing left to teach but patience. That’s the whole design of this thing: an opponent who explains himself, and four difficulties that are really four stages of a man’s education.

Phase 1 is the board, the engine, an opening book of twenty-five lines, and Faria’s seal. Phase 2 hands his commentary to Claude — the same move, read aloud by someone who has seen you make it before. Gaps get named here rather than hidden: nothing is saved yet, and the game resets on refresh.