Buzz
Chess, often referred to as the game of kings, holds a prominent place in both science fiction and fantasy genres. It appears in various forms—directly in scenes, subtly in narratives, or as an inspiration for creators. For enthusiasts of sci-fi, it’s a treasure trove of fascination. Below are 22 notable instances where chess plays a role in these imaginative realms.
1. Star Wars
While the rules of Dejarik holochess remain largely mysterious, one thing is clear: it’s wise to let the Wookiee triumph. In this sci-fi classic, the holographic game features intricate mechanics, with pieces battling on a circular board, adding depth to the futuristic setting.
2. Harry Potter
Hermione Granger finds wizard’s chess to be “utterly barbaric.” Fortunately, Ron Weasley proves to be a skilled player, commanding life-sized pieces in a high-stakes match during the quest for the Sorcerer’s Stone (or Philosopher’s Stone, depending on your preference).
3. Star Trek
In the original Star Trek series, Kirk and Spock engage in intense matches of tri-dimensional chess. It’s likely a prop designer envisioned a futuristic twist, imagining a world where players master the 10^50^50 possible moves in a standard chess game. Fans, however, took it further, leading to the creation of this iconic version.
4. Fallout
Even a nuclear apocalypse can’t halt the enduring allure of chess, as showcased in the video game Fallout. One standout enthusiast is ZAX 1.2, a highly advanced supercomputer.
5. WarGames
Had Matthew Broderick heeded the computer’s suggestion to stick to chess, countless troubles could have been averted. Instead, after infiltrating NORAD, he opts for a game of Global Thermonuclear War, nearly triggering an actual global catastrophe.
6. 2001: A Space Odyssey
A subtle clue to HAL 9000’s malfunction emerges during a chess match with Dr. Frank Poole. HAL declares, "I'm sorry Frank, I think you missed it: queen to bishop three, bishop takes queen, knight takes bishop, mate." However, HAL is wrong—queen to bishop three is an invalid move on the current board. The correct move should have been queen to bishop six. Stanley Kubrick, a meticulous chess enthusiast, would have undoubtedly caught this error, given his legendary precision.
7. The Yiddish Policemen’s Union
In Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, a chess enthusiast meets a tragic end, leaving behind a seemingly incomplete chess game at the crime scene. But is it truly unfinished? The mystery deepens. Dun-dun-DUNNNNN.
8. Unsound Variations
George R.R. Martin’s Dreamsongs features a tale about the consequences of a failed sacrificial move in a college chess tournament. Martin, a Life Member of the U.S. Chess Federation, brings his passion for the game into his storytelling.
9. Deep Thought
In Douglas Adams’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a supercomputer named Deep Thought is designed to uncover the ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything. Fittingly, IBM engineers adopted the name for their advanced chess computer in 1989. Despite its prowess, Deep Thought was defeated by former world chess champion Garry Kasparov in both games of their match.
10. Through the Looking-Glass
Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass revolves around a chess game, with characters symbolizing chess pieces and scenes representing squares on the board. Alice, portrayed as a pawn, aims to reach the eighth rank to transform into a queen.
11. Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey
When Bill and Ted meet their demise, the Grim Reaper offers them a chance at resurrection—if they can defeat him in chess. Instead, they challenge him to Battleship, Twister, and Clue.
12. Nightfall
In Isaac Asimov’s Nightfall, a complex multiplayer chess variant is introduced, making tri-dimensional chess appear simple. “The group around the table had set up a multi-chess board and initiated a six-player match. Moves were executed swiftly and silently, with everyone’s attention intensely focused on the board.”
13. 1984
Syme, an employee of the Ministry of Truth assisting with the Newspeak dictionary, is part of Oceania’s chess committee. Winston realizes Syme has been erased when his name is discreetly removed from the committee list. “The roster appeared nearly unchanged—nothing was crossed out—yet it was one name shorter. That was all the proof needed. Syme had vanished: as if he never existed.”
14. The Tempest
In the closing scene of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Ferdinand and Miranda are engaged in a game of chess. Chess serves as a significant symbol throughout the play, with Prospero maneuvering characters on the island like a chess master controlling pieces. Similarly, Prospero’s actions can be seen as an attempt to capture a king—Alonso, Ferdinand’s father.
15. The Chessmen of Mars
Edgar Rice Burroughs, a passionate chess enthusiast, created his own chess variant named Jetan for his 1922 novel The Chessmen of Mars.
16. Unicorn Variations
The origin of Unicorn Variations is as unique as the story itself. Roger Zelazny was approached to write for two anthologies—one requesting a unicorn-themed tale, the other a bar setting. His friend, George R.R. Martin, suggested combining the ideas with a chess theme, proposing a story about a unicorn playing chess in a bar. Zelazny’s resulting work went on to win a Hugo Award.
17. The Seventh Seal
In Ingmar Bergman’s 1957 film The Seventh Seal, a knight attempts to outwit Death by challenging him to a game of chess, hoping to postpone his inevitable fate. Interestingly, this concept predates the similar scenario in Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey.
18. X-Men
In the climactic scene of the first X-Men movie (widely regarded as the best), Professor X and Magneto engage in a strategic game of chess, with the pieces crafted entirely from glass.
19. Superman II
In Superman II, Lex Luthor devises a holographic chess game featuring himself as a diversion to facilitate his prison escape. This clever tactic might have inspired Michael Bolton in Office Space had he been in a minimum-security facility.
20. Jason and the Argonauts
The 1963 film Jason and the Argonauts portrays Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece as a strategic chess match between Zeus and Hera.
21. Discworld
In Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, the Ankh-Morpork Assassins' Guild engages in Stealth Chess, a unique variant. The board is expanded with two additional files, and the red-and-white squares, known as “the Slurk,” serve as the domain for the assassin, the only piece allowed to move there.
22. Blade Runner
In Blade Runner, Tyrell and Sebastian engage in a chess match inspired by “the Immortal Game,” a renowned 1851 encounter between Adolf Anderssen and Lionel Kieseritzky. Anderssen famously sacrificed his key pieces to secure victory using only minor ones.
This article was originally published in 2013 and has been updated in 2022.
