The Queen-s Gambit

When you hear the phrase , two distinct images may come to mind. For chess purists, it is a classic opening dating back to the 15th century (1. d4, d5 2. c4). For the millions who binge-watched Netflix during the pandemic, it conjures the hauntingly beautiful face of Anya Taylor-Joy, a ceiling full of chess notation, and the melancholic strum of a vinyl-record soundtrack.

No phenomenon is without critique. Some chess purists argued that the show fell into the "magical genius" trope, glossing over the thousands of hours of grunt work required to become a grandmaster. Others noted the irony that in the real world, few women have crossed the grandmaster threshold; the show’s fantasy allowed audiences to feel progressive without addressing systemic sexism in competitive chess. The Queen-s Gambit