Every morning he would wake and move in the same routine, holding off his anticipation of the game. When he finally sat down he would spend time looking over his opponent's white army where it advanced on his own men of black. When he found the change in the board identifying the move, he would nod in surprise or confirmation.

His own move he took only after careful consideration. Sometimes he took all day, going back between nature calls and chores and little trips into the garden to clear his head.