[HPforGrownups] Ron, the chess player...

[Alcuin York]

No: HPFGUIDX 192509

Bart:

Ron, in SS/PS, is depicted as a chess player good enough to solve a 

chess puzzle designed to stop people far his senior. Yet, this talent 
conveniently disappears for the rest of the series; one would think that 
Ron would be, at the very least, good at strategy and tactics. One key 
to winning at muggle chess is the ability to visualize at least 3 moves 
ahead (some experts claim that 3 moves ahead is all that is normally 
necessary). Concentrating on this would have boosted Ron to being more 
than the morale booster (the id part of the superego/ego/id trio made up 
of Hermione, Harry and Ron, respectively, or, if you will, the Dr. McCoy 
of the Spock/Kirk/McCoy trio).

Me:
I don't think it disappears, as Ron is shown handily beating both Harry and Hermione at chess on several occasions in subsequent books (although I can't think of any specific instances at the moment). I also don't think that skill at chess implies skill at anything else. I've known people who were fantastic chess players yet not particularly bright when it came to other areas, and vice versa. Chess is its own thing, and certain, otherwise pretty average, individuals just "get it" in a way that even super-brilliant people don't.
-Chris

 

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