What do a trapped King and a pressured quarterback have in common?

When the King can’t escape, you rely on the other pieces. When the quarterback is under pressure, you trust the blockers, the receivers running their routes, the teammates holding their ground. Leadership works the same way.

It’s the beginning of the NFL season, which means it’s time to throw back to one of my favorite puzzles (one I often share with athletes). What I love about this puzzle is that it’s adaptable to every level of leadership: on and off the field, in or out of the boardroom, and even in your personal life.

If you follow along with us here at Queenside, you know I always start with taking inventory. 

What pieces do we have on the board?

What’s their purpose?

What’s working for them, and what isn’t?

Usually, for athletes, “inventory” can mean two things:

• Understanding the roles and strengths of your teammates. Who’s blocking? Who’s making plays? Who’s reading the field?
  

• Reflecting on your own tools and resources. Your speed, awareness, decision-making, and where you need to adjust.

In this puzzle, inventory - and more specifically, function - is everything. And here’s the best part: you don’t need to know how to play chess to understand the lesson. Let’s break it down.

The white King on g3 is our main focus. Look at how trapped he is. 

The King can only move one space in any direction, but every square he might go to is in check. 

Remember, rooks move up, down, and side to side as far as they want, unless something blocks them. Here, the black rook on e2 dominates, cutting off several key escape squares. 

Now, take a look at the bishop on h5. Bishops move diagonally, as far as they want, unless a piece is blocking them. Bh5 is locking down multiple squares too, which makes the King’s position even more difficult. 

Finally, the knight on d5 is pressuring f4 (remember, knights move in an L-shape).

So…Kg3 is trapped.

If I’m playing as the black pieces here, I need to realize that moving the rook, bishop, or knight isn’t the best thing to do. 

And here’s where the real lesson comes in: not every piece is meant to move. The rooks, the bishop, and the knight are exactly where they need to be. They’re contributing, providing value, and fulfilling their purpose.

I need to consider my other pieces to make the best possible move in this position. It’s the same in football. In Week 1 and 2, not every player needs to make the highlight-reel play. Sometimes the tight end stays home to block. Sometimes the safety shadows a zone and never touches the ball. Their value comes from staying exactly where they are, doing their job, and creating space for others to succeed.

Now, apply that to your own life. You don’t have to move every piece at once. Focus on what’s working, leave it where it is, and direct your energy where it’s needed most. That’s how you win - on the chessboard, on the field, and in leadership.

Curious about the solution to this puzzle? The Queen on b5 is ready to move. The Queen can move up, down, side to side, or diagonally as far as she wants unless blocked. If she moves to b3, she checks the King. 

Now, if you play chess, you’re probably saying: “Ashley, the Knight on d2 will just capture her.”

Yes, that’s true! This puzzle has a sacrifice… and a mate in four.

The beauty of this puzzle is that it reminds us strategy isn’t about moving every piece - it’s about knowing when to sacrifice, when to hold steady, and when to strike. That’s the mindset we build at Queenside: teaching leaders to think five moves ahead, whether on the chessboard, the field, or in life. 

xx,

Ashley Lynn Priore