#chess game

[theroundbartable]

Uther hates playing chess.

It's not that he hates the game, he just has terrible opponents. His son, Arthur, is a worthy match, but his prince duties are increasing lately and Uther is tired of Arthur's complaints that Uther 'only wins because he's the King'.

The problem is that it's true. No one wants to win against a King except another King. But how often does Uther get to challenge one except for endless bouts through letters?

Until -

Arthur: he's a terrible servant! He doesn't listen to me and treats me like a commoner!

Uther: *perking up* that servant?

Arthur: *realizing whom he's talking to* ... Yes, but- he's not that bad! An idiot, one who doesn't care about propriety but he's a good one. And it's sort of refreshing to not be-

Uther: You misunderstand. It's fine. Do you think he knows how to play chess?

Arthur: ... I don't know? I mean, he can read and write, which is surprising, and he speaks more languages than you'd expect, so maybe?

Uther: wonderful. I'd like to try it our

Arthur: *irritated* yes, Sire.

...

Uther: go on then. You do know how to play?

Merlin: *nervous* A little. My mother taught me

Uther: wonderful. And do not be afraid to put in a fight, I'm so bored of easy wins.

Merlin: am I not being executed if I win?

Uther: *shocked at Merlin's bluntness* excuse me?

Merlin: ... Am I being executed for asking?

Uther: ... I think this is gonna be fun. You take the white pieces.

Merlin: alright, Sire.

...

Uther: *shellshocked*

Merlin: may I leave, Sire?

Uther: how on earth did you-

Merlin: I was allowed to win, right?

Uther: of course. But how-

Merlin: it's in the strategy. You like to sacrifice your pawns to make space for your knights and bishops. And you barely move your Queen.

Uther: I'm protecting the King! The most important piece on the field!!!

Merlin: A good King wouldn't sacrifice his people for no reason. There is no shame in trying to save them all.

Uther: that's what Arthur would do and how he would keep losing. You didn't do that at all! You basically sacrificed every single piece on the field in a suicide mission!

Merlin: *blinking dumbly* I'm protecting my King. The most important piece on the field.

Basically...

[morningdawnbreaks]

“You could live a hundred lifetimes and not deserve him, you know.” Catching Fire pg. 178

Because Peeta comes over everyday to give Haymitch fresh bread, and despite how bad the house smells, he stays and sometimes he talks to Haymitch while he eats, while other times both are content to just sit in silence.

Because they have chess tournaments. Haymitch beats Peeta everytime, but Peeta never refuses a game.

Because after 24 years, Haymitch finally has a real friend again.

[trickytrick]

hii!! would you mind doing one where Arthur and Merlin get out of a bad situation (bandits perhaps?) and they're hugging each other

or if you want something fluffier, maybe Arthur, Merlin, Morgana, and Gwen playing chess in teams? (the teams are Arthur against the three of them, he's winning, until Merlin makes up some absurd move, does it, and "wins" the game by just capturing the king on a whim)

your art is so lovely !! smitten Arthur is also one of my favorite arthurs :D

VERY soft merthur alert…. a sort of “what if” of diamond of the day part 1 if merlin went with arthur even without his magic and he almost died and arthur actually saved him for a change. did it thinking of the scene where merlin screams for gwaine as he escorts him to che crystal cave :((((

also i liked both ideas so here’s a way MORE CHEERY drawing of them playing chess but i remixed it bc i couldn’t get morgana right and ragequit the drawing… if you get the reference please let’s get married rn

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Men playing chess in Central Park, 1948.

Photo: Slim Aarons via Getty Images

[lucafuwafuwa24]

forgor to post

[autumnmobile12]

"Your move, my friend."

[blvckmvsk]

[atomiccollectionanchorme]

2001: A Space Odyssey

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) directed by Stanley Kubrick. Dr Frank Poole plays chess with HAL 9000

[thora-sniper]

I accidentally came across this picture in a group where they collect jokes. It doesn't really matter what kind of inscription it is, I was inspired by the very opportunity to return to interaction between Crosshair and Echo. So... something before order 66.

[nalyra-dreaming]

something just hit me. Lestat's last chess game with Claudia was foreshadowing. How she surprised him. He thought he knew what she was doing, only to turn around and go in a different direction.

And him screaming "move your piece finish the game!" Hello Louis! Do it. Finish it.

I swear I'm not this dumb lol but sometimes I'm so focused on everything at the surface that I forget to look beyond that. Best part of rewatching is reliving all these moments with fresher eyes.

:) The chess game was incredible.

I talked about it here (though I thought the "broadcasting theory" was solid then, but it was a clue after all as we know now. Still, I do think he reacts to her, at least instinctively):

Here is a good post on it all by someone else, too (that I reblogged):

AND, if I may:

The outburst after is NOT just yelling - it carries a lot of meaning, that Louis... glosses over in the tale, for a lot of reasons:

But in any case - this show is brilliant, all the way into the last level or hint. The chess game they used is incredible, too, namely the infamous: "The Immortal"

Just incredible on all levels :))

[huariqueje]

Chess Game - Sabina Caceres

Latvian , b. ?

oil on canvas , 35.5 x 45 in.

[ek-ranjhaan]

Although late but yeah.

Arranging both colour chess pieces, a small prayer, unbridled pent-up emotions and final, gentle push to the chair.. a 18 yr old, humble champ with his feet firmly on earth. He should go a long way

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Unfazed by the 17.7 degree Fahrenheit temperature, J. Kay and Nathan Turkel continued their chess game in Central Park, December 1, 1958.

Photo: UPI via Harry Ransom Center, Univ. of Texas

[zibaldone-di-pensieri]

Do you (know how to) play Chess?

[r4rw1ngd1n0]

When stress, play chess.