Chess: Difference between revisions

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|image      = Chess2.jpg
|image      = Chess2.jpg
|type        = [[Game]]
|type        = [[Game]]
|first       =Marco Polo (TV story)
|first cs    = Marco Polo (TV story)
|clip        =K9 plays chess - Dr Who - BBC sci-fi
|clip        = K9 plays chess - Dr Who - BBC sci-fi
}}
}}
'''Chess''' was a [[board game]] in which two players moved their pieces across a board, the [[chessboard]], to try to [[checkmate]] the opponent's king.
'''Chess''' was a [[board game]] in which two players moved their pieces across a board, the [[chessboard]], to try to [[checkmate]] the opponent's king.
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== History ==
== History ==
The [[Eleventh Doctor]] once claimed that the [[Time Lord]]s had invented chess, and making it "[their] game". ([[TV]]: ''[[Nightmare in Silver (TV story)|Nightmare in Silver]]'') However, another account showed that they favoured variant of the game which was known as [[four-dimensional chess]] and was described as having been "adapted from Earth chess". It shared the latter's basic rules, but also involved "multiple levels", "the ability to dematerialise pieces from the board and have them materialise elsewhere on later turns of the game", and [[time travel|time-travelling]] pieces. ([[GAME]]: {{cite source|The Iytean Menace (game)}})
The [[Eleventh Doctor]] once claimed that the [[Time Lord]]s had invented chess, and making it "[their] game". ([[TV]]: {{cs|Nightmare in Silver (TV story)}}) However, another account showed that they favoured variant of the game which was known as [[four-dimensional chess]] and was described as having been "adapted from Earth chess". It shared the latter's basic rules, but also involved "multiple levels", "the ability to dematerialise pieces from the board and have them materialise elsewhere on later turns of the game", and [[time travel|time-travelling]] pieces. ([[GAME]]: {{cs|The Iytean Menace (game)}})


On [[Earth]], it was known at least by the [[13th century]]. ([[TV]]: "[[The Singing Sands]]")
On [[Earth]], it was known at least by the [[13th century]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Marco Polo (TV story)|namedep=The Singing Sands (2)}})


In the [[52nd century]], a variant of chess called [[live chess]] was favoured. Each piece had an electrical current; each time a piece was moved, the current became stronger. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]]'')
In the [[52nd century]], a variant of chess called [[live chess]] was favoured. Each piece had an electrical current; each time a piece was moved, the current became stronger. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Wedding of River Song (TV story)}})


At the [[end of the universe]], [[Ashildr]] sat in a [[reality bubble]] with a chess board. ([[TV]]: ''[[Hell Bent (TV story)|Hell Bent]]'') This eventually gave rise to a legend. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[R&J (audio story)|R&J]]'')
At the [[end of the universe]], [[Ashildr]] sat in a [[reality bubble]] with a chess board. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Hell Bent (TV story)}}) This eventually gave rise to a legend. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|R&J (audio story)}})


== Known challenges ==
== Known challenges ==
At a [[Gobi Desert]] camp in [[1289]], [[Marco Polo]] challenged [[Ian Chesterton]] to a [[Ian Chesterton-Marco Polo chess match|game]] of chess. [[Tegana]] considered it a "fascinating game of strategy of war". ([[TV]]: "[[The Singing Sands]]") Tegana would later play a [[Marco Polo-Tegana chess match|game]] against Marco Polo. [[Susan Foreman|Susan]] would also play a [[Susan-Ping-Cho chess match|game]] against [[Ping-Cho]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Marco Polo (novelisation)|Marco Polo]]'')
At a [[Gobi Desert]] camp in [[1289]], [[Marco Polo]] challenged [[Ian Chesterton]] to a [[Ian Chesterton-Marco Polo chess match|game]] of chess. [[Tegana]] considered it a "fascinating game of strategy of war". ([[TV]]: {{cs|Marco Polo (TV story)|namedep=The Singing Sands (2)}}) Tegana would later play a [[Marco Polo-Tegana chess match|game]] against Marco Polo. [[Susan Foreman|Susan]] would also play a [[Susan-Ping-Cho chess match|game]] against [[Ping-Cho]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Marco Polo (novelisation)}})


[[Dortmun]] played a one-player variant of the game. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)|The Dalek Invasion of Earth]]'')
[[Dortmun]] played a one-player variant of the game. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)}})


During his time on [[Santespri]] in the [[Haddron]] Republic, the [[Second Doctor]] played two chess matches against opponents he thought were someone else. Firstly, he played [[Gerhart Rutger]] thinking he was [[Hans Kesar]], and then he played a computer set up by [[Axell Cruger]] to play on his behalf. Nevertheless, the Doctor won both games easily. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Dreams of Empire (novel)|Dreams of Empire]]'')
During his time on [[Santespri]] in the [[Haddron]] Republic, the [[Second Doctor]] played two chess matches against opponents he thought were someone else. Firstly, he played [[Gerhart Rutger]] thinking he was [[Hans Kesar]], and then he played a computer set up by [[Axell Cruger]] to play on his behalf. Nevertheless, the Doctor won both games easily. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Dreams of Empire (novel)}})


[[File:Pipe chess.jpg|thumb|left|[[Cotton (The Mutants)|Cotton]] and [[Stubbs]] use pipes instead of normal pieces in a game aboard [[Skybase One]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Mutants (TV story)|The Mutants]]'')]]
[[File:Pipe chess.jpg|thumb|left|[[Cotton (The Mutants)|Cotton]] and [[Stubbs]] use pipes instead of normal pieces in a game aboard [[Skybase One]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Mutants (TV story)}})]]
[[Cotton (The Mutants)|Cotton]] and [[Stubbs]] used pipes with different ends as pieces in a [[Cotton-Stubbs chess match|chess game]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Mutants (TV story)|The Mutants]]'')
[[Cotton (The Mutants)|Cotton]] and [[Stubbs]] used pipes with different ends as pieces in a [[Cotton-Stubbs chess match|chess game]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Mutants (TV story)}})


[[K9 Mark I]] [[Fourth Doctor-K9 chess match (The Sun Makers)|played chess]] with the [[Fourth Doctor]] in [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]]. [[Leela]] had to move K9's pieces for him. The Doctor declared that even one-dimensional chess showed the failings of the mechanical brain, shortly before K9 put him in check. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sun Makers (TV story)|The Sun Makers]]'') A [[Fourth Doctor-K9 chess match (The Androids of Tara)|match]] with K9 Mark II saw the Doctor moving K9's pieces. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Androids of Tara (TV story)|The Androids of Tara]]'') K9 later taught [[Adric]] to play. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Purgatory 12 (audio story)|Purgatory 12]]'')
[[K9 Mark I]] [[Fourth Doctor-K9 chess match (The Sun Makers)|played chess]] with the [[Fourth Doctor]] in [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]]. [[Leela]] had to move K9's pieces for him. The Doctor declared that even one-dimensional chess showed the failings of the mechanical brain, shortly before K9 put him in check. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Sun Makers (TV story)}}) A [[Fourth Doctor-K9 chess match (The Androids of Tara)|match]] with K9 Mark II saw the Doctor moving K9's pieces. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Androids of Tara (TV story)}}) K9 later taught [[Adric]] to play. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Purgatory 12 (audio story)}})


In [[1889]], in the [[House of the Dragon]], the Fourth Doctor and [[Magnus Greel]] played a [[Fourth Doctor-Magnus Greel chess match|few moves of chess]] with the Doctor checkmating his opponent, who scattered the pieces in anger. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)|The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]'')
In [[1889]], in the [[House of the Dragon]], the Fourth Doctor and [[Magnus Greel]] played a [[Fourth Doctor-Magnus Greel chess match|few moves of chess]] with the Doctor checkmating his opponent, who scattered the pieces in anger. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)}})


[[Vislor Turlough]] and [[Tegan Jovanka]] played [[Vislor Turlough-Tegan Jovanka chess match|chess]] in the TARDIS. ([[TV]]: ''[[Enlightenment (TV story)|Enlightenment]]'')
[[Vislor Turlough]] and [[Tegan Jovanka]] played [[Vislor Turlough-Tegan Jovanka chess match|chess]] in the TARDIS. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Enlightenment (TV story)}})


The [[Sixth Doctor]] also played a [[Sixth Doctor-Frobisher chess match|game]] of chess against [[Frobisher]], but the game had more than one board and some were stacked to form a cube. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[War-Game (comic story)|War-Game]]'')
The [[Sixth Doctor]] also played a [[Sixth Doctor-Frobisher chess match|game]] of chess against [[Frobisher]], but the game had more than one board and some were stacked to form a cube. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|War-Game (comic story)}})


Frobisher [[Frobisher-Robotic arm chess match|played chess]] against a [[robotic arm]]. After it beat him, he knocked the set over and claimed the robot cheated. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Profits of Doom! (comic story)|Profits of Doom!]]'')
Frobisher [[Frobisher-Robotic arm chess match|played chess]] against a [[robotic arm]]. After it beat him, he knocked the set over and claimed the robot cheated. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|Profits of Doom! (comic story)}})


The Sixth Doctor often played chess with [[Peri Brown]] after she rejoined him, although she did not enjoy it very much. They were in the middle of a game when Peri decided that she wanted to be returned to [[Baltimore]] in the mid-[[1990s]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Conflict Theory (audio story)|Conflict Theory]]'')
The Sixth Doctor often played chess with [[Peri Brown]] after she rejoined him, although she did not enjoy it very much. They were in the middle of a game when Peri decided that she wanted to be returned to [[Baltimore]] in the mid-[[1990s]]. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Conflict Theory (audio story)}})


Chess was particularly favoured by the [[Seventh Doctor]] when battling certain enemies (in particular [[Fenric]]). He was accused by [[Ace]] and [[Bernice Summerfield]] of playing with their lives "as though you would a game of chess". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Curse of Fenric (TV story)|The Curse of Fenric]]'') {{Facts}} While battling [[Lady Peinforte]], [[de Flores]] and [[Cyberman (Mondas)|Cybermen]], the Seventh Doctor and Ace travelled to [[1638]], where the Doctor [[Chess match (Silver Nemesis)|played chess]] against an unknown opponent (thought to be [[Fenric]]). ([[TV]]: ''[[Silver Nemesis]]'') The Seventh Doctor [[Seventh Doctor-Anthony Rupert Hemmings chess match|played chess]] against [[Anthony Rupert Hemmings]] while the latter posed as his friend [[George (Timewyrm: Revelation)|George]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Timewyrm: Revelation (novel)|Timewyrm: Revelation]]'') The Seventh Doctor and his companions Ace, [[Hex]], [[Lysandra Aristedes|Lysandra]], and [[Sally Morgan|Sally]] were transported by Fenric to a [[pocket universe]] resembling a chessboard. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Gods and Monsters (audio story)|Gods and Monsters]]'')
Chess was particularly favoured by the [[Seventh Doctor]] when battling certain enemies (in particular [[Fenric]]). He was accused by [[Ace]] and [[Bernice Summerfield]] of playing with their lives "as though you would a game of chess". ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Curse of Fenric (TV story)}}) {{facts}} While battling [[Lady Peinforte]], [[de Flores]] and [[Cyberman (Mondas)|Cybermen]], the Seventh Doctor and Ace travelled to [[1638]], where the Doctor [[Chess match (Silver Nemesis)|played chess]] against an unknown opponent (thought to be [[Fenric]]). ([[TV]]: {{cs|Silver Nemesis (TV story)}}) The Seventh Doctor [[Seventh Doctor-Anthony Rupert Hemmings chess match|played chess]] against [[Anthony Rupert Hemmings]] while the latter posed as his friend [[George (Timewyrm: Revelation)|George]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Timewyrm: Revelation (novel)}}) The Seventh Doctor and his companions Ace, [[Hex]], [[Lysandra Aristedes|Lysandra]], and [[Sally Morgan|Sally]] were transported by Fenric to a [[pocket universe]] resembling a chessboard. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Gods and Monsters (audio story)}})


[[Haresh Chandra]] taught [[Luke Smith]] how to play chess and was subsequently beaten by him six times in a row. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Eternity Trap (TV story)|The Eternity Trap]]'')
[[Haresh Chandra]] taught [[Luke Smith]] how to play chess and was subsequently beaten by him six times in a row. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Eternity Trap (TV story)}})


[[Darius Pike]] (with the help of [[K9 Mark 2]]) [[Darius Pike-Starkey chess match|played chess]] against [[Starkey]] (aided by [[Jorjie Turner]]). Starkey beat him. The particular chessboard on which they were playing had animals as the chess pieces. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Fall of the House of Gryffen (TV story)|The Fall of the House of Gryffen]]'') Starkey [[Starkey-K9 chess match|later lost]] to K9. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Cambridge Spy (TV story)|The Cambridge Spy]]'')
[[Darius Pike]] (with the help of [[K9 Mark 2]]) [[Darius Pike-Starkey chess match|played chess]] against [[Starkey]] (aided by [[Jorjie Turner]]). Starkey beat him. The particular chessboard on which they were playing had animals as the chess pieces. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Fall of the House of Gryffen (TV story)}}) Starkey [[Starkey-K9 chess match|later lost]] to K9. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Cambridge Spy (TV story)}})


[[Rory Williams]] and [[Oliver Marks]] [[Rory Williams-Oliver Marks chess match|played chess]] in the garden of [[the Manse]]. Oliver put Rory [[Check (chess)|in check]] eleven times. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Glamour Chase (novel)|The Glamour Chase]]'')
[[Rory Williams]] and [[Oliver Marks]] [[Rory Williams-Oliver Marks chess match|played chess]] in the garden of [[the Manse]]. Oliver put Rory [[Check (chess)|in check]] eleven times. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Glamour Chase (novel)}})


[[Adric]] and [[Nyssa]] often played chess. Adric "always" won. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Hearts of Stone (short story)|Hearts of Stone]]'')
[[Adric]] and [[Nyssa]] often played chess. Adric "always" won. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Hearts of Stone (short story)}})


The [[Eleventh Doctor]] [[Eleventh Doctor-Bobby Fischer chess match|once played]] [[Bobby Fischer]] and refused to do so again because it went "very wrong." He also had a habit of playing himself and was disappointed because every time he played chess against himself he lost. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Dark Horizons (novel)|Dark Horizons]]'') The Eleventh Doctor played a [[Eleventh Doctor-Mr Clever chess match|game]] against a [[Cyber-Planner]] (calling himself [[Mr Clever]]) that had attempted to possess him, with the prize being total control over the Doctor's mind. However, the game was inconclusive as the Doctor used his turn in control to destroy the Cyber-Planner with a [[hand pulse]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Nightmare in Silver (TV story)|Nightmare in Silver]])'' The Eleventh Doctor also cornered [[Gantok]] in a [[Eleventh Doctor-Gantok chess match|game]] of live chess, though he conceded when the man promised to help him in exchange for the win. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]]'')
The [[Eleventh Doctor]] [[Eleventh Doctor-Bobby Fischer chess match|once played]] [[Bobby Fischer]] and refused to do so again because it went "very wrong." He also had a habit of playing himself and was disappointed because every time he played chess against himself he lost. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Dark Horizons (novel)}}) The Eleventh Doctor played a [[Eleventh Doctor-Mr Clever chess match|game]] against a [[Cyber-Planner]] (calling himself [[Mr Clever]]) that had attempted to possess him, with the prize being total control over the Doctor's mind. However, the game was inconclusive as the Doctor used his turn in control to destroy the Cyber-Planner with a [[hand pulse]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Nightmare in Silver (TV story)}}) The Eleventh Doctor also cornered [[Gantok]] in a [[Eleventh Doctor-Gantok chess match|game]] of live chess, though he conceded when the man promised to help him in exchange for the win. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Wedding of River Song (TV story)}})


[[Artie Maitland]] also played a [[Artie Maitland-Porridge chess match|game]] of chess against [[Chess-playing Cyberman|a controlled]] [[Cyberman]], though he quickly lost as he fell into the infamous "[[fool's mate]]" error. ([[TV]]: ''[[Nightmare in Silver (TV story)|Nightmare in Silver]]'')
[[Artie Maitland]] also played a [[Artie Maitland-Porridge chess match|game]] of chess against [[Chess-playing Cyberman|a controlled]] [[Cyberman]], though he quickly lost as he fell into the infamous "[[fool's mate]]" error. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Nightmare in Silver (TV story)}})


[[Humphrey (The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage)|Humphrey]], a fictional character created by [[Annette Billingsley]], was taught chess by his grandfather and used his knowledge to beat a minor villain in one of Billingsley's ''[[The Troubleseekers]]'' novels. When a [[Ch'otterai (The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage)|Ch'otterai]] brought ''The Troubleseekers'' fictional world to life, the [[Tenth Doctor]] encountered the robber and agreed to his challenge of a [[Tenth Doctor-Humphrey chess match|game]] of chess. However, the Doctor said it was inevitable that he would win because he had never lost a game of chess except to a [[K9|metal dog]] which did not count, so he refused to play the game and claimed victory anyway. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage (short story)|The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage]]'')
[[Humphrey (The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage)|Humphrey]], a fictional character created by [[Annette Billingsley]], was taught chess by his grandfather and used his knowledge to beat a minor villain in one of Billingsley's ''[[The Troubleseekers]]'' novels. When a [[Ch'otterai (The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage)|Ch'otterai]] brought ''The Troubleseekers'' fictional world to life, the [[Tenth Doctor]] encountered the robber and agreed to his challenge of a [[Tenth Doctor-Humphrey chess match|game]] of chess. However, the Doctor said it was inevitable that he would win because he had never lost a game of chess except to a [[K9|metal dog]] which did not count, so he refused to play the game and claimed victory anyway. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage (short story)}})


== Other references ==
== Other references ==
[[Morgaine]] claimed she could always beat the Doctor at chess. ([[TV]]: ''[[Battlefield (TV story)|Battlefield]]'')
[[Morgaine]] claimed she could always beat the Doctor at chess. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Battlefield (TV story)}})


[[K9 Mark II]] was programmed with all the championship games since [[1866]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Androids of Tara (TV story)|The Androids of Tara]]'')
[[K9 Mark II]] was programmed with all the championship games since [[1866]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Androids of Tara (TV story)}})


A trap in the [[Tomb of Rassilon]] resembled a chess board. Nothing happened until a visitor reached the fifth row; then the board became a giant death trap. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'')
A trap in the [[Tomb of Rassilon]] resembled a chess board. Nothing happened until a visitor reached the fifth row; then the board became a giant death trap. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Five Doctors (TV story)}})


When being warned that he had only four minutes left to live, the [[Eighth Doctor]] retorted by asking "anyone for chess?" ([[TV]]: ''[[The Night of the Doctor (TV story)|The Night of the Doctor]]'')
When being warned that he had only four minutes left to live, the [[Eighth Doctor]] retorted by asking "anyone for chess?" ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Night of the Doctor (TV story)}})


[[Dodo Chaplet]] was not very good at chess. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Ark (novelisation)|The Ark]]'')
[[Dodo Chaplet]] was not very good at chess. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Ark (novelisation)}})


[[Ian Gilmore|Group Captain Ian Gilmore]] was not fond of chess, claiming that "wars are fought on battlefields, not chessboards." ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Peshka (audio story)|Peshka]]'')
[[Ian Gilmore|Group Captain Ian Gilmore]] was not fond of chess, claiming that "wars are fought on battlefields, not chessboards." ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Peshka (audio story)}})


In the [[2010s]], [[Coal Hill School]] included a big floor chessboard for its pupils. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Caretaker (TV story)|The Caretaker]]'')
In the [[2010s]], [[Coal Hill School]] included a big floor chessboard for its pupils. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Caretaker (TV story)}})


At least one headteacher of Coal Hill, [[Francis Armitage]], had a chessboard in his office. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo (TV story)|The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo]]'')
At least one headteacher of Coal Hill, [[Francis Armitage]], had a chessboard in his office. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo (TV story)}})


When they were captured by {{Delgado}}, [[Jo Grant]] and the [[Third Doctor]] played [[draughts]] against each other. Jo won and took all the Doctor's remaining pieces. The Doctor complained that the trouble with this game was that it was too simple. Furthermore he mentioned that he was more used to playing three dimensional chess. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Mind of Evil (TV story)|The Mind of Evil]]'')
When they were captured by {{Delgado}}, [[Jo Grant]] and the [[Third Doctor]] played [[draughts]] against each other. Jo won and took all the Doctor's remaining pieces. The Doctor complained that the trouble with this game was that it was too simple. Furthermore he mentioned that he was more used to playing three dimensional chess. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Mind of Evil (TV story)}})


The [[Twelfth Doctor]] claimed to be able to always win at chess with his secret move, kicking the board over. (''[[TV]]: [[Smile (TV story)|Smile]]'')
The [[Twelfth Doctor]] claimed to be able to always win at chess with his secret move, kicking the board over. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Smile (TV story)}})


[[Category:Chess| ]]
[[Category:Chess| ]]
[[Category:Black and white]]
[[Category:Black and white]]

Revision as of 20:11, 30 April 2024

Chess

Chess was a board game in which two players moved their pieces across a board, the chessboard, to try to checkmate the opponent's king.

Chess pieces included kings, queens, bishops, rooks, knights and pawns.

History

The Eleventh Doctor once claimed that the Time Lords had invented chess, and making it "[their] game". (TV: Nightmare in Silver [+]Loading...["Nightmare in Silver (TV story)"]) However, another account showed that they favoured variant of the game which was known as four-dimensional chess and was described as having been "adapted from Earth chess". It shared the latter's basic rules, but also involved "multiple levels", "the ability to dematerialise pieces from the board and have them materialise elsewhere on later turns of the game", and time-travelling pieces. (GAME: The Iytean Menace [+]Loading...["The Iytean Menace (game)"])

On Earth, it was known at least by the 13th century. (TV: "The Singing Sands" [+]Part of Marco Polo, Loading...{"namedep":"The Singing Sands (2)","1":"Marco Polo (TV story)"})

In the 52nd century, a variant of chess called live chess was favoured. Each piece had an electrical current; each time a piece was moved, the current became stronger. (TV: The Wedding of River Song [+]Loading...["The Wedding of River Song (TV story)"])

At the end of the universe, Ashildr sat in a reality bubble with a chess board. (TV: Hell Bent [+]Loading...["Hell Bent (TV story)"]) This eventually gave rise to a legend. (AUDIO: R&J [+]Loading...["R&J (audio story)"])

Known challenges

At a Gobi Desert camp in 1289, Marco Polo challenged Ian Chesterton to a game of chess. Tegana considered it a "fascinating game of strategy of war". (TV: "The Singing Sands" [+]Part of Marco Polo, Loading...{"namedep":"The Singing Sands (2)","1":"Marco Polo (TV story)"}) Tegana would later play a game against Marco Polo. Susan would also play a game against Ping-Cho. (PROSE: Marco Polo [+]Loading...["Marco Polo (novelisation)"])

Dortmun played a one-player variant of the game. (TV: The Dalek Invasion of Earth [+]Loading...["The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)"])

During his time on Santespri in the Haddron Republic, the Second Doctor played two chess matches against opponents he thought were someone else. Firstly, he played Gerhart Rutger thinking he was Hans Kesar, and then he played a computer set up by Axell Cruger to play on his behalf. Nevertheless, the Doctor won both games easily. (PROSE: Dreams of Empire [+]Loading...["Dreams of Empire (novel)"])

Cotton and Stubbs use pipes instead of normal pieces in a game aboard Skybase One. (TV: The Mutants [+]Loading...["The Mutants (TV story)"])

Cotton and Stubbs used pipes with different ends as pieces in a chess game. (TV: The Mutants [+]Loading...["The Mutants (TV story)"])

K9 Mark I played chess with the Fourth Doctor in the TARDIS. Leela had to move K9's pieces for him. The Doctor declared that even one-dimensional chess showed the failings of the mechanical brain, shortly before K9 put him in check. (TV: The Sun Makers [+]Loading...["The Sun Makers (TV story)"]) A match with K9 Mark II saw the Doctor moving K9's pieces. (TV: The Androids of Tara [+]Loading...["The Androids of Tara (TV story)"]) K9 later taught Adric to play. (AUDIO: Purgatory 12 [+]Loading...["Purgatory 12 (audio story)"])

In 1889, in the House of the Dragon, the Fourth Doctor and Magnus Greel played a few moves of chess with the Doctor checkmating his opponent, who scattered the pieces in anger. (TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang [+]Loading...["The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)"])

Vislor Turlough and Tegan Jovanka played chess in the TARDIS. (TV: Enlightenment [+]Loading...["Enlightenment (TV story)"])

The Sixth Doctor also played a game of chess against Frobisher, but the game had more than one board and some were stacked to form a cube. (COMIC: War-Game [+]Loading...["War-Game (comic story)"])

Frobisher played chess against a robotic arm. After it beat him, he knocked the set over and claimed the robot cheated. (COMIC: Profits of Doom! [+]Loading...["Profits of Doom! (comic story)"])

The Sixth Doctor often played chess with Peri Brown after she rejoined him, although she did not enjoy it very much. They were in the middle of a game when Peri decided that she wanted to be returned to Baltimore in the mid-1990s. (AUDIO: Conflict Theory [+]Loading...["Conflict Theory (audio story)"])

Chess was particularly favoured by the Seventh Doctor when battling certain enemies (in particular Fenric). He was accused by Ace and Bernice Summerfield of playing with their lives "as though you would a game of chess". (TV: The Curse of Fenric [+]Loading...["The Curse of Fenric (TV story)"]) [additional sources needed] While battling Lady Peinforte, de Flores and Cybermen, the Seventh Doctor and Ace travelled to 1638, where the Doctor played chess against an unknown opponent (thought to be Fenric). (TV: Silver Nemesis [+]Loading...["Silver Nemesis (TV story)"]) The Seventh Doctor played chess against Anthony Rupert Hemmings while the latter posed as his friend George. (PROSE: Timewyrm: Revelation [+]Loading...["Timewyrm: Revelation (novel)"]) The Seventh Doctor and his companions Ace, Hex, Lysandra, and Sally were transported by Fenric to a pocket universe resembling a chessboard. (AUDIO: Gods and Monsters [+]Loading...["Gods and Monsters (audio story)"])

Haresh Chandra taught Luke Smith how to play chess and was subsequently beaten by him six times in a row. (TV: The Eternity Trap [+]Loading...["The Eternity Trap (TV story)"])

Darius Pike (with the help of K9 Mark 2) played chess against Starkey (aided by Jorjie Turner). Starkey beat him. The particular chessboard on which they were playing had animals as the chess pieces. (TV: The Fall of the House of Gryffen [+]Loading...["The Fall of the House of Gryffen (TV story)"]) Starkey later lost to K9. (TV: The Cambridge Spy [+]Loading...["The Cambridge Spy (TV story)"])

Rory Williams and Oliver Marks played chess in the garden of the Manse. Oliver put Rory in check eleven times. (PROSE: The Glamour Chase [+]Loading...["The Glamour Chase (novel)"])

Adric and Nyssa often played chess. Adric "always" won. (PROSE: Hearts of Stone [+]Loading...["Hearts of Stone (short story)"])

The Eleventh Doctor once played Bobby Fischer and refused to do so again because it went "very wrong." He also had a habit of playing himself and was disappointed because every time he played chess against himself he lost. (PROSE: Dark Horizons [+]Loading...["Dark Horizons (novel)"]) The Eleventh Doctor played a game against a Cyber-Planner (calling himself Mr Clever) that had attempted to possess him, with the prize being total control over the Doctor's mind. However, the game was inconclusive as the Doctor used his turn in control to destroy the Cyber-Planner with a hand pulse. (TV: Nightmare in Silver [+]Loading...["Nightmare in Silver (TV story)"]) The Eleventh Doctor also cornered Gantok in a game of live chess, though he conceded when the man promised to help him in exchange for the win. (TV: The Wedding of River Song [+]Loading...["The Wedding of River Song (TV story)"])

Artie Maitland also played a game of chess against a controlled Cyberman, though he quickly lost as he fell into the infamous "fool's mate" error. (TV: Nightmare in Silver [+]Loading...["Nightmare in Silver (TV story)"])

Humphrey, a fictional character created by Annette Billingsley, was taught chess by his grandfather and used his knowledge to beat a minor villain in one of Billingsley's The Troubleseekers novels. When a Ch'otterai brought The Troubleseekers fictional world to life, the Tenth Doctor encountered the robber and agreed to his challenge of a game of chess. However, the Doctor said it was inevitable that he would win because he had never lost a game of chess except to a metal dog which did not count, so he refused to play the game and claimed victory anyway. (PROSE: The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage [+]Loading...["The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage (short story)"])

Other references

Morgaine claimed she could always beat the Doctor at chess. (TV: Battlefield [+]Loading...["Battlefield (TV story)"])

K9 Mark II was programmed with all the championship games since 1866. (TV: The Androids of Tara [+]Loading...["The Androids of Tara (TV story)"])

A trap in the Tomb of Rassilon resembled a chess board. Nothing happened until a visitor reached the fifth row; then the board became a giant death trap. (TV: The Five Doctors [+]Loading...["The Five Doctors (TV story)"])

When being warned that he had only four minutes left to live, the Eighth Doctor retorted by asking "anyone for chess?" (TV: The Night of the Doctor [+]Loading...["The Night of the Doctor (TV story)"])

Dodo Chaplet was not very good at chess. (PROSE: The Ark [+]Loading...["The Ark (novelisation)"])

Group Captain Ian Gilmore was not fond of chess, claiming that "wars are fought on battlefields, not chessboards." (AUDIO: Peshka [+]Loading...["Peshka (audio story)"])

In the 2010s, Coal Hill School included a big floor chessboard for its pupils. (TV: The Caretaker [+]Loading...["The Caretaker (TV story)"])

At least one headteacher of Coal Hill, Francis Armitage, had a chessboard in his office. (TV: The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo [+]Loading...["The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo (TV story)"])

When they were captured by the Master, Jo Grant and the Third Doctor played draughts against each other. Jo won and took all the Doctor's remaining pieces. The Doctor complained that the trouble with this game was that it was too simple. Furthermore he mentioned that he was more used to playing three dimensional chess. (TV: The Mind of Evil [+]Loading...["The Mind of Evil (TV story)"])

The Twelfth Doctor claimed to be able to always win at chess with his secret move, kicking the board over. (TV: Smile [+]Loading...["Smile (TV story)"])