Mieses – Reshevsky
Margate 1935 · Round 7
Famous from "The Queen's Gambit"
This game is mentioned by name in Walter Tevis' novel "The Queen's Gambit" (1983), where an onlooker recognizes it: "That's Mieses-Reshevsky. From the thirties." – "You've got it … Margate. Nineteen thirty-five." In the award-winning Netflix series (2020), a position from this game appears in Episode 3 when the character Benny Watts is first introduced.
Samuel Reshevsky (1911–1992)
Born in Poland, Reshevsky was one of the greatest child prodigies in chess history. At just five years old in 1917, he demonstrated remarkable playing strength at the New Vienna Chess Club. By age six, he was playing simultaneous games against multiple adult opponents. He became one of the strongest American players of his generation and remained among the world's elite for over three decades. At the time of this game in Margate 1935, he was 23 years old, while Mieses was already 70.
Tournament: Margate 1935 · Opening: Caro-Kann (B15) · Result: 0-1
Game details and notation
| White | Jacques Mieses |
|---|---|
| Black | Samuel Reshevsky |
| Event | Margate ENG |
| Date | 1 May 1935 |
| Round | 7 |
| Opening | ECO B15 |
| Result | 0–1 |
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Ng3 e5 6. Be3 exd4 7. Qxd4 Qa5+ 8. Qd2 Bb4 9. c3 Be7 10. Bd3 O-O 11. N1e2 c5 12. Nf5 Bxf5 13. Bxf5 Nc6 14. O-O Rad8 15. Qc2 g6 16. Be4 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Rfe8 18. Qc2 c4 19. b4 Qc7 20. Rfd1 Ne5 21. Bf4 Bd6 22. Nd4 Nf3+ 23. Nxf3 Bxf4 24. g3 Bh6 25. a4 Bg7 26. b5 Qc5 27. Rac1 Rd5 28. Rxd5 Qxd5 29. Nd4 Bxd4 30. cxd4 Re4 31. Rd1 Rxd4 32. Rxd4 Qxd4 33. Kf1 Kf8 34. a5 Qd3+ 35. Qe2 Qxe2+ 36. Kxe2 Ke7 37. Ke3 Kd6 38. Kd4 c3 39. Kxc3 Kc5 40. b6 axb6 0-1
Notation in English algebraic form, as in the viewer.
The Novel (1983)
Walter Tevis, by his own account a "Class C" player, who had taught English literature at Ohio University until 1978, published the novel "The Queen's Gambit" in 1983. At a tournament in Cincinnati, protagonist Beth Harmon watches a nameless player analyzing a position from this game for a group of onlookers. Unlike in the series, this is not Benny Watts.
One of the onlookers recognizes the game: "That's Mieses-Reshevsky. From the thirties." The player confirms: "You've got it," and adds: "Margate. Nineteen thirty-five." The game is described as a "dazzling game." In his author's note, Tevis thanks National Master Bruce Pandolfini for proofreading the text and ridding it of chess errors.
The Netflix Series (2020)
The adaptation starring Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon became one of Netflix's most successful series (62 million households in the first 28 days). In Episode 3, the character Benny Watts (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) is introduced while analyzing a position from the Mieses–Reshevsky game.
Former World Champion Garry Kasparov and chess coach Bruce Pandolfini served as consultants for the chess scenes.
Mieses opened with 1.e4, to which Reshevsky responded with the solid Caro-Kann Defense (1...c6) – a rather positional opening that led to a strategic battle.
In the middlegame, both sides exchanged the heavy pieces. The resulting pawn endgame was won by Reshevsky.
Mieses played at Margate 1935 as a 70-year-old against the world's elite, including former World Champion José Raúl Capablanca, Samuel Reshevsky (tournament winner), and Sir George Thomas.
Game Statistics
Margate 1935 was a strong international tournament with Reshevsky as the winner, ahead of former World Champion José Raúl Capablanca and Sir George Thomas.
Mieses was the oldest participant in the tournament at 70 years of age. At this time, he was still living in Germany and did not emigrate to England until 1938, when he fled the Nazis.