Certain decisions in The Queen’s Gambit change everything for Beth Harmon. This quiz looks at the most important turning points and choices in the story.
What rule breaking act does Beth commit at Methuen that leads to her collapsing in the hallway?
She steals money from the director’s office
She sets fire to a classroom
She sneaks out at night to meet boys off campus
She breaks into the dispensary, steals a jar of pills, and swallows several at once
When Beth plays a simultaneous exhibition against the high school chess club, how does she perform?
She agrees to quick draws on all boards
She wins only half of the games
She wins on every board
She loses every game
During the final game of the Kentucky State Championship against Harry Beltik, what does Beth do in the restroom to steady herself?
She takes a tranquilizer pill before returning to the board
She calls Alma to ask for advice
She decides to resign the game
She secretly checks a chess book
Why does Beth walk out of the Apple Pi Club gathering at her high school?
She feels out of place, steals a bottle of gin, and leaves to drink alone
She is called away by the principal
She is challenged to a chess game and refuses
She is expelled from the club after an argument
Whose invitation does Beth accept to move to New York and train before the Paris tournament?
Mr Shaibel’s invitation
Benny Watts’s invitation
Harry Beltik’s invitation
Townes’s invitation
Who loans Beth the money she needs to travel to Moscow after she has spent much of her winnings?
Benny Watts, using his prize money
Jolene, using her law school savings
Townes, using a newspaper advance
Alma Wheatley, from a hidden account
What decision does Beth make about tranquilizer pills before playing in Moscow?
She only takes pills during adjournments
She chooses to compete without using pills
She increases her pill dosage for extra focus
She switches to a different medication
What does Beth do when Borgov offers her a draw in their final game in Moscow?
She refuses the draw and plays on for a win
She asks for more time to think
She resigns the game in frustration
She accepts the draw immediately
How do Beth’s American friends help her during the adjourned game against Borgov?
They write letters that arrive after the tournament
They send her a book of opening theory
They analyze the position together over the phone and suggest ideas
They travel to Moscow and sit in the front row
At the end of the series, what choice does Beth make instead of going straight to the airport with Soviet officials?
She leaves Moscow without saying goodbye to anyone
She asks them to take her on a tour of the Kremlin
She gets out of the car and chooses to walk through Moscow to play chess in the park
She insists on returning to the hotel for more interviews
Starter
Starter: You recall the big twists but some smaller decisions are hazy. Watching with an eye on Beth’s choices will clarify them.
Solid
Solid: You follow Beth’s key decisions well. A bit more focus on how one choice leads to another will deepen your understanding.
Expert!
Expert: You can trace the chain of decisions that shape Beth’s life as clearly as a sequence of chess moves.
Every major shift in The Queen’s Gambit starts with a decision Beth or someone around her makes. Thinking about those choices adds a strategic layer to the story, just like a complex game. The Queen’s Gambit Quizzes
