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"They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black chessmen, which were all taller than they were and carved from what looked like black stone. Facing them, way across the chamber, were white pieces — the towering white chessmen had no faces."
— Description of the Chessboard Chamber[src]

The Chessboard Chamber[2] was the location that held the fourth obstacle, also known as the Human Chess Game,[3] guarding the Philosopher's Stone in the 1991–1992 school year. The chamber resembled a giant-sized chess set, and was enchanted by Professor McGonagall, with the human-sized chess pieces being alive.[1]

History[]

Harry-potter1-trio chess

The white pawns block the trio's path with their swords

On 4 June 1992, Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger were attempting to prevent the theft of the Philosopher's Stone by a servant of Lord Voldemort that, at the time, they believed was Severus Snape. After making their way past the Stone's first three defences, they encountered this obstacle in the fourth chamber. Ron took command of the black side, with himself, Harry, and Hermione replacing missing pieces, in order to defeat the white side and be allowed to pass.

Ron sacrifice

Ron sacrifices himself in order to win the match

The trio then proceeded to play an impressive game, though it was particularly brutal even by the normal standards of Wizard's Chess; by far the most lethal player was the white queen, which personally took out at least three of the black pieces and nearly won the game in white's favour. In the end, Ron sacrificed himself to the white queen to allow Harry to checkmate the opposing king.[1]

It was unknown how Quirinus Quirrell/Voldemort managed to bypass the chessboard. Albus Dumbledore probably could have just easily reversed the charm McGonagall had bewitched the chess pieces with, though, rendering them back to their original size and he most likely did so, considering how he was able to pass through quickly to reach and save Harry from Quirrell.

At the end of year feast, Dumbledore awarded Ron fifty house points for 'the best played game of chess that Hogwarts has seen these many years'. Percy Weasley proudly boasted about his brother's accomplishment.[4]

After the Philosopher's Stone was destroyed, the undamaged pieces of the chessboard were stored in the Room of Hidden Things.[5][6]

Players[]

Behind the scenes[]

Wizard's Chess - PAS

Chessboard Chamber as seen in Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells

Chessboard chamber final position

The endgame position composed for the film adaptation by Jeremy Silman. The white knight on h4 was removed from the position seen in the film.

  • In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone:
    • They tried to reach the door on the other side without playing, but the white pawns will not allow them to do so. Ron understood what they are trying to tell them.
    • The white pieces' faces are mostly covered in armour rather than being faceless.
    • The pieces that are destroyed are not clearly seen being dragged off the board.
    • Ron is actually riding the black knight instead of just taking its place on the board.
    • The black rook and bishop that Harry and Hermione took the place of do not appear.
    • Ron did not take on any of the white pieces.
    • Harry moving across the board was not shown.
    • The chess pieces did not show much sentience.
    • When Harry checkmates the king, it drops its sword rather than its crown.
    • The pieces did not clear the way after the trio won the game.
    • The captured pieces were, in order: black pawn, white bishop, black queen, white knight, black pawn, black bishop, white knight, black rook, black knight, white king.
      • When the black queen is captured, the black king and bishop can be seen to her right and left respectively, which is the opposite of the real-life game.
      • When the white queen destroys the black rook, a black bishop can be seen in the background. Since Harry had taken on the role of the second black bishop, this is a mistake as there are only two black bishops in a chess game (although it is possible a black pawn was promoted to a bishop).
      • Somehow there were two black rooks, which were both destroyed by the white queen. This is a mistake as Hermione played as the other black rook (it is possible that a black pawn was promoted to a rook).
      • Just before Ron is defeated by the white queen, a white knight can be seen in the background, although both white knights were destroyed during the game (it is possible a white pawn was promoted to a knight).
    • The filmmakers used radio and digital effects to create the movement of the giant chess pieces. The explosive effects were created using compressed air. Ronald Weasley actor Rupert Grint states 'I've actually still got a broken piece of the horse!'[7]
    • The chess game seen in the movie was scripted by chess International Master Jeremy Silman (uncredited). While the scene was fully shot, it was heavily trimmed to reduce the movie's running time; in particular, the endgame position composed by Silman would have had Harry delivering checkmate by capturing the white queen, which was removed from the final cut.[8]
    • In the position shown on the board, play would have continued as follows (moves written in algebraic notation):
1. Qxd3
Not seen in the movie is the white queen capturing a pawn and threatening Harry, while also preventing Ron from delivering checkmate on h3.
1.... Rc3
Ron sacrifices a rook to protect Harry, threatening the white queen and opening up the c5 square for Harry to attack the king. The shot of the white queen capturing the rook in front of Harry can be seen in the movie just before Ron declares his intention to sacrifice himself.
2. Qxc3 Nh3+
Ron sacrifices himself to deliver check, forcing the white queen to capture him and deflecting her away from the c5 square so that Harry can finish the game. Notably, sacrificing Harry would have lead to checkmate as well (2. ... Bc5+ 3. Qxc5 Nh3 mate).
3. Qxh3 Bc5+
The scene in the movie ends here with Harry declaring 'Checkmate.' However, the intention of Silman was for white to block with the queen (the only legal move remaining) and for Harry to checkmate by capturing her.
4. Qe3 Bxe3 mate[8]
  • In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, Ron trips over a chess piece's sword, falls unconscious, and is unable to follow his friends.
  • OnPottermore, there is a feature on designing giant wizard's chess.

Differences[]

Media Scene
Book Harry is a bishop. Hermione is a castle. Ron is a knight and later gets injured.
Film Same as book, except Ron rides the knight instead of taking its place.
Film (Disc 2 game) N/A
PC/Mac game Ron defeats most of the pieces and gets injured. Harry defeats the rest. Hermione does not play.
PS1 game There are three boards: Ron defeats most of the pieces and gets injured. Harry defeats the rest. Hermione does not play.
Pottermore 'You just see a few pieces move around.'
GBC game Ron defeats most pieces. Harry defeats the rest. Hermione does not play.
GBA game Harry paralyses most of the pieces. Ron paralyses the last piece and stays on the board.
LEGO Years 1-4 (desktop) While the pieces fight each other, Harry, Ron, and Hermione solve a series of puzzles by directing the pieces on the board where to move. After checkmate, Ron trips over the black king's sword and watches the doors close after Harry and Hermione enter next room.
LEGO Years 1-4 (handheld) Ron gets injured from start, Harry has to answer three questions in order to make the pieces move and win.
PS2/Xbox/GameCube game Ron defeats some pieces. Harry takes over.
Magic Awakened Same as film.

Appearances[]

Ron Weasley riding chess piece pop vinyl

Ron Weasley riding a Wizard's Chess piece as a POP! Vinyl

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 16 (Through the Trapdoor)
  2. Pottermore - Book 1, Chapter 16, Moment 2 dead link
  3. Harry Potter Trading Card Game - Human Chess Game (Trading Card)
  4. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 17 (The Man with Two Faces)
  5. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
  6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
  7. Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book, Magical Games and Sports
  8. 8.0 8.1 Silman, Jeremy. 'Harry Potter: The Complete Position.' Archived 02/18/2010 at the Wayback Machine and reproduced by WizBang101
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