Harry Beltik and Benny Watts start as Beth’s opponents and become important mentors. This quiz compares their roles, personalities, and influence on her career.
Who is Harry Beltik when Beth first meets him at a tournament?
The reigning Kentucky State Champion
The world champion from the Soviet Union
The director of Methuen Home
A reporter covering the event
Who is Benny Watts when Beth first plays him at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas?
A tournament arbiter with no rating
The U.S. Champion and a highly regarded young grandmaster
A reporter writing about the event
A novice player just learning the rules
How do Beth’s first games against Harry Beltik and Benny Watts differ in outcome?
She loses to both of them in their first big games
She beats Harry in their first big game but loses to Benny in their first meeting
She draws with both of them in their first games
She beats Benny first and loses to Harry later
What role does Harry Beltik take on after Beth defeats him and he visits her in Lexington?
He becomes a study partner who helps Beth analyze her weaknesses and improve
He runs her finances and investments
He becomes her full time manager and travel agent
He completely quits chess and never talks to her again
What major offer does Benny Watts make to Beth after she becomes U.S. champion?
He asks her to retire so he can stay champion
He invites her to move to New York and train with him and his friends
He asks her to stop playing in international events
He offers to buy her house in Lexington
Which of these best describes Harry Beltik’s personality compared to Benny Watts’s?
Harry is modest and introspective, while Benny is more confident and flamboyant
Harry never studies chess, while Benny refuses to read any books
Both are identical in style and attitude
Harry is loud and flashy, while Benny is extremely shy
How does Benny help Beth during the Moscow tournament even though he is not there in person?
He plays in the same event and knocks her out in an early round
He refuses to speak to her during the entire tournament
He sends her a brand new opening book that arrives after the event
He analyzes the adjourned game with friends and calls Beth with suggestions
After working with Beth, how does Harry Beltik view his own chess career?
He declares that chess is meaningless and burns all his books
He moves to Moscow to challenge Borgov directly
He decides to become world champion no matter what
He realizes he may never be world class and chooses a different path while still respecting the game
Which of the following best sums up Benny Watts’s role in Beth’s development as a player?
He insists she give up international play forever
He discourages her from studying and tells her to rely only on talent
He sharpens her competitive edge through intense training and helps her face the world’s best
He convinces her to play only casual games for fun
In the end, how do Harry Beltik and Benny Watts both fit into Beth’s story?
They replace Beth as the main focus of the story
They start as rivals but become important mentors and friends who support her success
They remain bitter enemies who try to ruin her career
They are minor characters with no real influence
Starter
Starter: You remember that both Harry and Benny play Beth, but their individual stories feel similar in your memory.
Solid
Solid: You can separate Harry and Benny’s timelines and roles in Beth’s life. A little more detail will make their contrasts clear.
Expert!
Expert: You understand how Harry Beltik and Benny Watts each challenge and support Beth in different ways.
Seeing how Harry Beltik and Benny Watts shape Beth at different stages explains a lot about her growth. They are rivals, friends, and mentors all at once. The Queen’s Gambit Trivia Quizzes
