"Thank you," she said politely, taking a seat across from him, delicately touching the Queen on her side of the board with the tip of one finger.

"You'll have to remind me of the rules, but I promise I'm a quick learner."

She didn't need instruction, not when she could simply touch the pieces and know where they ought to go, but there were advantages to playing up one's inexperience when faced with a new opponent.