The Queen’s Gambit may be about Beth Harmon, but it is also packed with real chess ideas. This quiz focuses on openings, tactics, and concepts that any fan of the series and the game should know.
Which sequence of moves defines the classical Queen’s Gambit opening?
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3
1 d4 d5 2 c4
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4
In chess, what is checkmate?
Both players agree to a draw
A player resigns before being in check
The king moves into the center of the board
The king is in check and has no legal move to escape
What is a stalemate in chess?
A game that ends when the time runs out
The side to move has no legal moves but is not in check
Each side has only a king left
Both players are in check at the same time
How many squares are on the standard chessboard Beth studies throughout The Queen’s Gambit?
64
81
72
100
In theory, what is the maximum number of queens one player can have on the board at the same time?
Six
Nine
Eight
Four
What does the chess term “gambit” mean, as used in the title The Queen’s Gambit?
A deliberate pawn sacrifice to gain time or positional advantage
A forced checkmate in two moves
An illegal opening move
A game that ends in a draw
Which piece is generally the most powerful in chess and is referenced in the series title?
The knight
The bishop
The queen
The rook
Which chess piece moves in an L shape and can jump over other pieces, a tactic Beth often uses in her attacks?
The knight
The bishop
The rook
The king
What does a player’s rating, such as Elo, generally measure in chess?
How stylishly they dress at events
Their playing strength based on past game results
The number of tournaments they have entered
The number of openings they know
Why do tournament players like Beth use chess clocks during games?
To limit how much total time each player has to make all of their moves
To decide who gets the white pieces
To record how many moves have been played
To add extra breaks into the game
Starter
Starter: You recognize a few basic ideas like checkmate and openings. A bit of chess study will make the positions in the show feel even richer.
Solid
Solid: You understand the core chess concepts behind The Queen’s Gambit. Keep sharpening your knowledge of openings and endgames to level up further.
Expert!
Expert: You do not just watch Beth’s games, you understand them. Your grasp of chess concepts matches the spirit of the series.
Chess knowledge makes every scene in The Queen’s Gambit more exciting, from Beth’s first lesson to her final combination in Moscow. Try replaying a game from the series and spotting these concepts on the board. The Queen’s Gambit Quizzes
