To Everyone Who Watched "The Queen's Gambit" And Suddenly Thinks They're A Chess Master

    A Closed Sicilian?! In this economy?!

    Jen Abidor
    by Jen Abidor

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Over the weekend, I finally got around to starting The Queen's Gambit, and it's every bit as good as everyone told me it would be.

    Beth playing chess in The queen's Gambit
    Phil Bray/Netflix

    If you don't know, the limited series tells the story of Beth Harmon, a young girl who learns she is incredibly gifted at chess while living in an orphanage, and her journey in the world of competitive chess.

    I was much like Beth at the beginning...which is the only time I was REMOTELY comparable to Beth in any way, shape, or form:

    Beth asking "I wanna know what that is you're playing."
    Netflix

    Also me:

    Beth asking "The squares have names?"
    Netflix

    At first, I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to get into this show because of my lack of chess-pertise, but that fear was assuaged within 30 seconds of watching.

    ً @kafkafesque

    Watching people playing chess in The Queen's Gambit.

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    And suddenly, chess was my new...passion???

    Marc @MarcSnetiker

    me starting The Queen’s Gambit: what’s the deal with chess me after four episodes: if Beth just castled kingside she could have compensated for double pawns AND still maintained the Sicilian Defense what is she DOING

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    Seriously, live footage of me:

    Omaima @omaima_es

    Me acting like I can understand the chess scenes in The Queen’s Gambit

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    I definitely went from "haven't even thought about chess in like a decade" to "DO I NEED A CHESSBOARD THOUGH?" in approximately 30 seconds flat:

    Like, don't mind me! I'm just over here wondering why the HECK somebody would do a CLOSED SICILIAN???? When three days ago, I would have pictured this:

    A Sicilian pie with the word CLOSED on it
    The Washington Post via Getty Images

    I went from "how do the different pieces like the horse one and the pawns move again?" to..."HER KNIGHT IS HANGING? OH PLEASE, BELTIK!"

    Beth saying can't you see that?
    Netflix

    Extreme Regina George voice: GOD, BELTIK, YOU ARE SO STUPID! (Just kidding, I love him a lot.)

    And from, "Whoa, Beth seems to be very good at chess" to "SHE ATTACKS LIKE ALEKHINE!"

    Benny saying "You attack like Alekhine" to Beth
    Netflix

    Anyway, all jokes aside, I'm absolutely loving the series, and this video where folks who really know chess talk about Beth's moves was an enjoyable watch for a noob like me:

    View this video on YouTube
    Chess.com / youtube.com

    BRB, actually going to try to learn to play chess.