Chess is a sport/activity which many have long-viewed as male-dominated. It seems there has always been an emphasis in the press and media on successful male chess players, such as Magnus Carlsen, as well as movies featuring male protagonists such as Searching for Bobby Fischer. However, there are many accomplished female chess players who do not receive as much publicity. The Netflix show The Queen’s Gambit, which first aired in 2020, has become one of the platform’s most-watched miniseries, bringing worldwide attention to female chess players. This series focuses on the fictional female character Beth Harmon who quickly becomes a chess prodigy. The seven episodes take us through Harmon’s life and experiences in chess, which are simultaneously disturbing and fascinating.
Brief Synopsis
The Queen’s Gambit follows Harmon’s dysfunctional childhood and early adulthood in the 1960s. Harmon is placed in an orphanage after losing her mother. There, she secretly learns to play chess from a janitor at the orphanage, who inspires her love of chess and discovers her talent. The orphanage dispenses drugs to sedate the girls, and Harmon quickly becomes dependent on these, believing she needs them to escape reality and play her best chess. Eventually, Harmon gets adopted by a couple. Harmon’s adoptive mother does not support her chess at first but eventually changes her mind as Harmon becomes more successful. Harmon continues to play in major tournaments such as the US Open and The Kentucky Championship. She is often underestimated because of her gender and appearance. Throughout, Harmon continues her dependency on drugs, believing that they help her to perform her best.
The following is an episode guide and does contain SPOILERS:
Episode 1
Harmon is placed in an orphanage after her mother dies. She is introduced to the sedative drugs given by the orphanage and uses them to imagine chess positions. She is taught chess by the school janitor Mr. Shaibel who helps foster her talent. Harmon is offered an opportunity to play at the local high school and surprisingly defeats all of the members in the chess club in a simul, impressing everyone. Harmon is focused on trying to get more of the sedatives.
Episode 2
Harmon continues her passion for chess. After several years at the orphanage, she is adopted. She starts school but is made fun of due to her plain clothing and her extraordinary intelligence. Harmon plays in her first tournament. She has no rating and is initially questioned by the tournament directors for wanting to play highly rated players. Harmon is one of only a few girls there. Harmon easily defeats all her opponents, including the highest rated player, Harry Beltik, surprising everyone at the tournament.
Episode 3
Harmon travels to the Cincinnati Open tournament. She appears more glamorous as she buys stylish clothes with her winnings. She meets Benny Watts. She continues to win tournaments, where she receives attention because she is a girl among “the male dominated world” of chess. Harmon travels to Las Vegas for the US Open where she faces Watts, losing to him. She becomes co-Champion with Watts but is disappointed in the outcome.
Episode 4
Harmon recovers from her lost match with Benny Watts and plays in another tournament in Mexico City. Harmon plays Borgov, another world chess champion. She resigns to Borgov after being outplayed by him. Harmon’s adoptive mother, who accompanied her to Mexico, dies in the hotel room. Harmon contacts her estranged father to notify him of the news.
Episode 5
Harmon returns to her home in Lexington, Kentucky, where her former opponent Beltik moves into her home and helps her prepare for a game against Borgov. Harmon participates in the US Championship in Ohio where she runs into Watts again. She loses to Watts in a series of blitz games before she plays him in the tournament which shakes her confidence, but she ultimately beats him to become the US Champion. She then qualifies to participate in the Moscow Invitational. Watts invites Harmon to NYC to help prepare for her upcoming tournaments.
Episode 6
Harmon goes to New York City to stay with Watts to prepare for her tournaments. They prepare intensively and Harmon meets Watts’s friends. Harmon travels to Paris where she faces Borgov once again. Harmon does well until the last round, where she faces Borgov. The evening before she plays him, Watts’s friend, Cleo, calls her and the two spend the evening drinking together. As a result, Harmon is in no shape to play Borgov and loses to him. Harmon returns to Lexington and isolates herself in her home, drinking. Finally, Harmon is visited by Jolene, an old friend from her orphanage, who helps her to turn her life around.
Episode 7
With Jolene’s help, Harmon is able to improve her life and stops drinking and taking drugs. They return to the orphanage after the death of Mr. Shaibel, which causes Harmon to break down after reflecting on her experiences. Harmon goes to the Moscow Invitational, where she plays Borgov, ultimately defeating him after having the support of many of her former opponents and friends, including Watts and Beltik.
Themes
The theme of substance abuse is not one that is common in chess. Instead, chess requires pure focus, and different drugs would alter one’s ability to concentrate. The only drug I have heard of in chess is Ritalin prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, possibly giving one an edge because it improves focus. Chess players are usually encouraged to take good care of themselves, eating well, exercising, and sleeping well so they can think clearly during games.
Harmon is portrayed as a beautiful and glamorous female character who favors fancy clothes and therefore cannot be taken seriously. This stereotype is a damaging one. Women are often underestimated in chess and in The Queen’s Gambit, male opponents routinely underestimate Harmon, but quickly discover that she is a fierce opponent. In addition, Harmon is seen as brilliant but emotionally damaged due to her traumatic childhood. This supports the theme of the “tortured artist” that is sometimes seen in those with enormous talent. Chess is one activity where opponents cannot be judged accurately by their age, gender, or appearance. I have been in many situations where players have underestimated my ability, especially when I was younger.
Chess is an activity which is not typically portrayed as very exciting or glamorous. In The Queen’s Gambit, chess is portrayed as a glamorous activity which is a welcome change. I think casting Anya Taylor-Joy as the glamorous Harmon has helped to change some of the chess stereotypes for women.
Conclusion
The Queen’s Gambit is an extraordinary and entertaining series which has brought attention to girls and women in chess. Chess is a male dominated sport/activity, however, many top female chess players are breaking these stereotypes such as Judit Polgar, Hou Yifan, Jennifer Yu, and many more. Hopefully, with such shows as The Queen’s Gambit and top players like this, there will be more media coverage on the real-life accomplishments of women in chess, inspiring more women to play chess. According to US Chess.org, female membership has increased by 13,000, or 70%, since 2009. However, women are still a minority of chess players, accounting for only 14% of membership overall. Locally, anyone, especially girls, can get started by joining our own Mountain Lakes High School Chess Club, where all are welcome.
Check out the trailer for The Queen’s Gambit below!
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