What's the Difference between The Queen's Gambit the Book and The Queen's Gambit the TV Show?
| In the Book |
In the TV Show |
Beth Harmon
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Beth Harmon
Portrayed by: Anya Taylor-Joy
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Benny Watts
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Benny Watts
Portrayed by: Thomas Brodie-Sangster
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William Shaibel
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William Shaibel
Portrayed by: Bill Camp
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Harry Beltik
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Harry Beltik
Portrayed by: Harry Melling
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Alma Wheatley
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Alma Wheatley
Portrayed by: Marielle Heller
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Kentucky tournament officials
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Matt and Mike
Portrayed by: Matthew and Russel Lewis
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Jolene DeWitt
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Jolene
Portrayed by: Moses Ingram
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Un-named tournament officials
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Matt and Mike
Portrayed by: Matthew and Russell Louis
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The Queen's Gambit Book vs TV Show
| In the Book |
In the TV Show |
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Beth learns to save the tranquilizer for night time. She needed them to help her sleep. Beth avoids pills and alcohol prior to playing chess.
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Jolene tells her to save it for the night because they are more fun that way. Beth eventually uses the pills to help her focus while playing chess. |
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Beth would play chess for brief periods when sent to the basement after math class. She also skipped Sunday chapel to play for an hour.
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Few details on how she managed to find time to play chess.
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Beth learned how to block the Scholar's Mate while thinking about the game in bed.
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Mr. Shaibel said he would teach Beth how to defend against it later. Beth figures out how to block the mating move and does so in her next game with Mr. Shaibel. |
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Beth also skips lunch on Sundays and is able to play 3 hours in the basement with Mr. Shaibel
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No details on how long she spends each Sunday playing chess.
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Jolene tried to teach Beth how to masturbate in bed at night, but Beth resisted. The next day Jolene called Beth ugly,
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This did not happen in the TV series. |