Chessboard Chamber

Chessboard Chamber
Object information
Made	1991
Usage	To guard the Philosopher's Stone/Giant enchanted chessboard
Owners	Minerva McGonagall (previously) Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

"They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black chessmen, which were all taller than they were and carved from what looked like black stone. Facing them, way across the chamber, were white pieces — the towering white chessmen had no faces."

— Description

The Chessboard Chamber, also known as the Human Chess Game, was a chess set enchanted by Professor McGonagall to giant size with the chess pieces being alive. It was used to guard the Philosopher's Stone in the 1991–1992 school year.

History

The white pawns block the trio's path with their swords

On 4 June 1992, Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger were attempting to prevent the theft of the Philosopher's Stone by a servant of Lord Voldemort that, at the time, they believed was Severus Snape. After making their way past the Stone's first three defences, they encountered this obstacle in the fourth chamber. Ron took command of the black side, with himself, Harry, and Hermione replacing missing pieces, in order to defeat the obstacle and be allowed to pass. They then proceeded to play an impressive game but which was particularly brutal even by the normal standards of Wizard's Chess; by far the most lethal player was the White Queen, which personally took out at least three of the black pieces and nearly won the game in white's favour. In the end, Ron sacrificed himself to the white Queen to allow Harry to checkmate the opposing King.

It was unknown how Quirinus Quirrell/Voldemort managed to bypass the chessboard but likely through concealment charms. Dumbledore probably could have just easily reversed the charm McGonagall had bewitched the chess pieces with, though, rendering them back to their original size and he most likely did so, considering how he was able to pass through quickly to reach and save Harry from Quirrell.

At the end of year feast, Albus Dumbledore awarded Ron fifty house points for "the best played game of chess that Hogwarts has seen these many years". Percy Weasley proudly boasted about his brother's accomplishment.

After the Philosopher's Stone was destroyed, the undamaged pieces of the chessboard were stored in the Room of Hidden Things.

Players

• Harry Potter - bishop
• Ronald Weasley - knight
• Hermione Granger - queen side castle
• Quirinus Quirrell - unknown, possibly did not even play

Behind the scenes

Ron Weasley riding a Wizard's Chess piece as a POP! Vinyl

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Ron is actually riding the black knight instead of just taking its place on the board.
• In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, Ron trips over a chess piece's sword, falls unconscious, and is unable to follow his friends.
• The filmmakers used radio and digital effects to create the movement of the giant chess pieces in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film). The explosive effects were created using compressed air. Ronald Weasley actor Rupert Grint states "I've actually still got a broken piece of the horse!"
• On Pottermore, there is a feature on designing giant wizard's chess.

Differences

Media	Scene
Book	Harry is a bishop. Hermione is a castle. Ron is a Knight and later gets injured.
Film
PC/Mac game	Ron defeats most of the pieces and gets injured. Harry defeats the rest. Hermione does not play.
PS1 game	There are three boards: Ron defeats most of the pieces and gets injured. Harry defeats the rest. Hermione does not play.
GBC game	Ron defeats most pieces. Harry defeats the rest. Hermione does not play.
GBA game	Harry paralyses most of the pieces. Ron paralyses the last piece and stays on the board.
PS2/Xbox/GameCube game	Ron defeats some pieces. Harry takes over.
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4	Harry, Ron, and Hermione solve a series of puzzles while the pieces fight each other. Ron trips over the black king's staff after checkmate.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) (Chess pieces)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Chess pieces)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game) (Chess pieces)
• Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• Pottermore (First identified as Chessboard Chamber)
• Wizarding World
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells