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 drinks 3 beers in the Vegas hotel room with her mom, she gets sick and throws up in the toilet. The beer affects her like the pills she takes, but faster.
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Beth's mom lets her have a beer, she does not get sick. |
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Beth's thoughts are depicted during the games as an inner monologue.
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Beth's thoughts are replaced by the comments of tournament officials and other people. This is done very effectively.
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Beth's adoptive mom has a piano, but is never depicted as playing it.
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She plays piano at home and at the hotel during one of Beth's tournaments. |
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After Beth's mom dies, Beltik lives with Beth in her house for a while to teach her better chess. He moves out after several weeks and does not see or talk to Beth after he leaves.
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Harry Beltik continues to be associated with Beth periodically throughout the series.
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Beth joins Benny in his New York City apartment where they study chess and she learns much. Benny plays backgammon and poker with others for money; his winnings help pay the rent on his apartment.
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Beth studies chess with Benny in NYC. Benny does not play poker. |