Chapter 4 Summary

Summer has returned. Unable to visit his aunt, young Luzhin satisfies his hunger for chess by looking at game diagrams in magazines. He fondly recalls his recent period of truancy. His aunt proved terrible at chess, eventually introducing the boy to a more adept player, an older gentleman who often delivers flowers to his aunt. The older gentleman opened up a whole new game for the boy, teaching him strategy, tactics and notation, and was amazed at how quickly young Luzhin learned to play.

Locked in his grandfather's former study, perusing old magazines, young Luzhin no longer needs the board in front of him. He can plan entire games in his head. The boy's father attempts to enter the study, forcing the child, whose ears burn with embarrassment at having been caught indulging his guilty pleasure, to allow him entry. Luzhin senior is...