[HPforGrownups] Re: Ron's chess-playing skills

[Helen R. Granberry]

No: HPFGUIDX 85879

Thank you Geoff and Oliver. I am not a chess player, so this kind of
insight is very much appreciated.  A friend of mine and I are working on
a theory involving the chess game played at the end of PS/SS and what it
might symbolize for the series as a whole. Note, the first piece that
'shocks the trio' is a Black Knight that had to be taken -- Sirius? Ron
is seemingly set up to be a great chess player. He continues to play
chess, and chess is used as a metaphor in at least three places in OotP.
To me, it doesn't look like he was given this skill for the simple
purpose of this one scene. 

I would also like to point out that Ron plays two roles in the chess
game -- he is the Knight, but he also gives the orders and directs the
game (is the King). Does this ring any bells for anyone? ;-)

For the movie, they brought in a chess expert to choreograph the scene.
I know this is a canon only discussion list, but I feel it may give a
little insight:

http://www.jeremysilman.com/movies_tv_js/harry_potter.html

The producers wanted to see a pawn fall. They wanted a capture. And it
kind of makes me wonder if they were trying to illustrate the death of
Cedric (which they knew about at that point while the did not know about
Sirius). 

Thanks again,

Helen