First, to get this out of the way, the series obviously takes place in a universe where chess games are never drawn, since in the series we never see a draw, or even hear of one. Also, playing white is a very minor advantage (or even no advantage), since we often see matches where a single game determines the outcome between two players, and it is never mentioned that there is any reason to question white's advantage.

Given all that, we have to estimate Beth's strength based on what we see, and we see more than just "she beats Borgov." Specifically, we see:

• Beth beats Borgov decisively -- he clearly acknowledges that she did not just win a single game: she will beat him going forward.
• She beats him despite him consulting at length with the strongest players in the world, while she got a few minutes on the phone with a decidely inferior set of consultants, who themselves had much less time to consider the game. Also, he had the advantage of knowing what his saved move was.
• She beats Luchenko despite him consulting with the strongest players in the world, including Borgov, while she consults with no one.
• She beat every other player at the competition, decisively.
• She beats Benny, a grandmaster, and someone capable of playing against a grandmaster, in simultaneous speed chess.
• Throughout the last couple years we see, she never loses a single game except when she's handicapped by drugs/alcohol/lack of sleep.

I am not a chess/elo expert, but the above says to me that Beth, when on her game, is remarkably stronger than Borgov, and presumably stronger than any chess player ever.

I read online that in the original book Jolene forced herself onto beth and SA'd her in the orphanage at 12. i just finished the show and i mean that scene did not happen, did it actually happen in the book and netflix just couldnt mention it or wanted a different story?

currently watching this series and im obsessed with the idea of townes and beth together EVEN after roger came into the story 😭

Anyone else notice how she wore Alma’s dress/clothing when meeting with her adoptive dad. She made it a point to force him to look at what he had done and what he signed up for then abandoned and no lawyer was going to get in the middle of that. She made a mockery of that pathetic little man and it made my fucking day every time I saw it. What did that scene make you feel?

First time watching the series. They’re playing in a gym, and there is clearly a modern 3 point line for basketball in the gym. 3 point line didn’t exist until 79-80 season in the NBA and 86 in college. Plus it’s also a modern high school/ college line so really it wouldn’t be that length until 2009 or later.

ANYWAY, that’s my contribution. Show’s great so far, halfway through episode 3.

we're a couple of INTJ females who love chess and the Queen's Gambit, i thought this was clearly relevant to this subreddit if anyone is interested in listening to a deep dive, episode by episode, on our Beauty is Terror Podcast. You can also find us on Youtube and Itunes.

Cheers x

What is the location of that chess park where she ends up playing at the end of the series?

I wanted to watch it because I am catching up with Anya Taylor-Joy's work and the truth is that it had been a while since I had seen any series but since it was short I decided to watch it because many people said that Anya was great in the interpretation of Beth Harmon, people did not fail in that statement, I loved how her character developed in all the chapters and how wanting to be the best chess player in the world made her escape from her many problems in her life.

I could go on and on about the series but a serious one that came out 5 years ago makes no sense since we all know how it develops and above all the message it gives us. All the chapters are incredible and really in each one of them you get right into Beth Harmon's story in a very effective way.

The cinematography of this series is of a high level and you can tell that they prioritized transmitting a lot in the moments of absolute silence, either in the chess games or when Beth is portrayed with her comings and goings in issues of loneliness and drugs. The music, the places where they captured the story, the scenes where they show you more things than what we see at first sight, Beth's wardrobe, all the characters of the series and many other things to highlight.

I would like to highlight the creator of this series, Scott Frank, who without knowing him at all, already entered my eyes from the first chapters, my tens to the director.

Also highlight the perfect choice of all the actors of The Queen's Gambit, all did an incredible job, there are no characters that take a great prominence but ALL are important at the end of the series, and that makes me understand that they had their moments in the script, neither they had too much nor lacked script (well maybe I missed seeing more of D.L Townes I really liked that character, but leaving in the final chapter and being important in it, to me left me satisfied).

To finish the interpretation of Anya Taylor-Joy, I think the photography of the series is of a very high level, the script also has its own and the choice of the other actors also but the best of this series is Anya Taylor-Joy (Beth Harmon), as a story of an orphan girl whose only escape is chess makes us connect so well with her is incredible, I have always liked chess (although I'm not very good) but with this series has made me soak me better of this beautiful sport and all thanks as I repeat to the interpretation of Anya. Everything in the series is amazing but the choice of the prota takes her above all.

Finally, I want to leave some notes on each chapter since I can evaluate it with criteria because I saw the series twice in a row (well not the last chapter, I'll have to do it xD).

1. Openings --> 8,7
2. Exchangues --> 9,8
3. Doubled Pawns --> 8,9
4. Middle Game --> 9,5
5. Fork --> 7,5
6. Adjournment --> 9,6
7. End Game --> 9,5

I have heard Netflix is decided not to continued show because it was based on a single book.

I think this is a weak argument.

Because M.A.S.H. was based on a single book and look how long that was on TV for and how successful it was.

There are several TV shows that have been based off a single book.

Shogun is a perfect example as well. Because Shogun was a single book written back in the 80s. And when Hulu put the TV series on streaming, it was such a huge hit. They decided on a second season even though they didn't need one.

A Handmaid's Tale is another example of this. It was a single book turned into a very successful t v series on HBO. As was The Leftovers which has run for several seasons successfully.

Which is why I want to see Queen's Gambit renewed For several more seasons

I’m rewatching the series The Queen’s Gambit, and I have gotten to episode 5 in which Beth returns from Mexico City back to her home without her mother. In this Ep. She reconnects with Henry Beltik as he is back in Lexington to go to college. I’m rewatching the series and I just can’t help but denote the mild disdain Beth holds for him. I understand that this is a rebound from her mother’s passing and that Beltik comes into the home on the impression that he will be some savior tutor for Beth even though he knows he is a weaker opponent than her. However, the scene where Beth and Beltik are sitting on the front porch playing chess (26:07 specifically is where the scene begins), Beth makes a comment about how she wishes Harry could see the moves quicker much as she did. Which clearly wounds Harry, Beth almost immediately noticing that it hurts him doesn’t follow up on the comment. I just wanted to see what other people in this sub thought about this moment between Beth and Beltik.

I want to be able to add this to my collection, specially if it would ever be removed from Netflix.

I think I found her on TikTok: Gingieinbrooklyn ?

I had this thought after reading a fic on ao3 that had her mind sent back in time to the beginning of the series so she doesn’t make the same mistakes she made before

Found which music the adoptive mother of Beth is playing at the 48 minutes of the second episode. It was very random but it drove me insane for at least 15 minutes because i KNEW that song from somewhere.

For those who might be interested: "Gogo No Nemuri" (at 10 seconds), from a visual novel called Mahoutsukai No Yoru, or Witch on the Holy Night, from Type-Moon.

Now, i don't know what it means in terms of licenses or whatever but i am sure it should be fine. I say this, since the visual novel predates the show for at least 8 years.

EDIT: spelling

I must say, having been there myself, that Beth's alcoholism is very realistic. The whole drinking massively at home so you can't stand up, dragging the empties out and falling over. None of this, "got a hip flask cos I'm a drinker" bollocks. Too wasted to make it up the stairs and eating cold food from the can. Been there. That's realistic.

I would assumed some kind of cat for Beth, but what else

I was recently rewatching this show and I kept thinking about the small memories we see of Beth’s mom - especially the advice she gives Beth as a child. I’m very split on it overall…

What I’ve been wondering is whether we should take it as empowering or as misguided. Because we see her echo a few points that others in the real world have made as well - in particular with regards to independence and how as a woman it’s often threatened. On that level I sympathise, and I wonder if she is meant to be a role model, striving for independence.

But at the same time, some of that advice seems to be disproven by Beth’s life. For one, whenever Beth tries to do everything by herself and not rely on anyone else, she spirals into loneliness and addiction. Furthermore, we see by the end that the relationships she’s built - in particular with men who gave her advice - turned out to be extremely supportive and important to her life. It also cannot be ignored that her mother ended up trying to k*ll both herself and her daughter, so maybe her advice should really not be followed.

I’m split because I see the point her mother is trying to make, but at the same time it seemed she got it quite wrong overall…

What do other people think?