The Queen's Gambit Effect - How a Show Changed Chess
On October 23, 2020, Netflix premiered a seven-episode series that drove 3.2 million people to join Chess.com, boosted chess set sales by 87%, and brought more women to the game than any event in history.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-14
Professor Archer says: I have been teaching chess for decades, and I have never seen anything like the surge that followed that show. Chess.com reported 120,000 new members joining every single day in December 2020. Chess book sales rose over 600 percent. People who had never touched a chess piece were suddenly asking me about the Sicilian Defense. It was magnificent.
62 Million Households and a Global Chess Boom
On October 23, 2020, Netflix premiered The Queen's Gambit, a seven-episode limited series based on Walter Tevis's 1983 novel. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon, a fictional chess prodigy navigating the competitive scene of the 1960s, the show became Netflix's biggest scripted limited series at the time, watched by 62 million households. It reached the Top 10 in 92 countries and ranked number one in 63.
The chess world was not prepared for what followed. Chess.com gained 3.2 million new members in the weeks after the premiere, a 500 percent increase in signups. By December 2020, the platform reported 120,000 new members joining every single day. Google searches for "chess" and "how to play chess" hit a nine-year peak. The New York Times compared the phenomenon to the chess mania that followed Bobby Fischer's victory over Boris Spassky in 1972.
What made the show special was not just the chess - it was the storytelling. Viewers connected with Beth Harmon's journey through addiction, loneliness, and self-discovery. Chess was the setting, but the universal themes of talent, struggle, and perseverance drew people in. Garry Kasparov served as chess consultant for the series, ensuring that the positions, analysis, and competitive atmosphere were authentic.
The Numbers Behind the Boom
The statistics following the show's release were staggering across every metric. Chess set sales in the United States jumped 87 percent in the three weeks after the premiere. On eBay, chess set and accessory sales surged 215 percent, with searches for chess sets up 273 percent in the first ten days. Wooden chess sets were sought nine times more than plastic, electronic, or glass alternatives. Chess book sales in the US rose an extraordinary 603 percent.
Chess.com saw a 1,000 percent increase in members studying the Queen's Gambit opening in their database between October and December 2020. Roughly seven times as many people joined the platform in the four months after the show compared to the four months before.
Perhaps most significantly, the demographics shifted. Chess had historically skewed heavily male, but the show brought a nearly 30 percent increase in female users on Chess.com. Of the 5.3 million new members who joined in the months following the premiere, 30 percent were women - an all-time high for the platform. Kasparov himself said the show would be a great encouragement for parents and talented girls to continue pursuing their goals in chess.
A Lasting Impact on Chess Culture
The question many in the chess world asked was whether the boom would last. The answer has been encouraging. While the initial spike has normalized, the baseline of chess participation remains significantly higher than before the show. The wave of new players who discovered chess through Beth Harmon found a game that rewards continued engagement.
The show also changed how chess is perceived in popular culture. Chess content creators gained mainstream audiences. Chess commentary became a viable form of entertainment. The game shed some of its stuffy, elitist image and became associated with intelligence, drama, and style. The show won multiple Emmy and Golden Globe awards, cementing chess's place in mainstream cultural conversation.
Chess clubs and coaches felt the impact immediately. Waiting lists for lessons grew, group classes filled up, and scholastic programs gained new students. The show created an entire generation of chess players who might never have discovered the game otherwise. For anyone who started playing chess because of The Queen's Gambit, the message is simple: you are part of a wonderful tradition now.
Questions About The Queen's Gambit and Chess
Is The Queen's Gambit an accurate portrayal of chess?
The chess in the show was overseen by Garry Kasparov and coach Bruce Pandolfini, who ensured that positions and analysis were realistic. Every board position shown on screen represents a real chess position. The competitive atmosphere, intensity, and emotional toll are portrayed authentically, though the drama is heightened for storytelling.
Is the Queen's Gambit an actual chess opening?
Yes. The Queen's Gambit is one of the oldest and most respected chess openings, beginning with 1.d4 d5 2.c4. It is played at every level from beginner to World Championship. The show's title is a clever double meaning referring to both the opening and Beth Harmon's own gambit in life.
Is Beth Harmon based on a real person?
Beth Harmon is fictional, created by novelist Walter Tevis in 1983. However, her story draws inspiration from several real players. Her prodigious talent echoes Bobby Fischer, while her success in a male-dominated world parallels pioneers like Vera Menchik and Judit Polgar. The character is a composite, not a biography.
Did the show increase diversity in chess?
Yes, measurably. Chess.com reported a nearly 30 percent increase in female users after the show aired. Women's chess tournaments saw record entry numbers. The show demonstrated that chess transcends gender and helped challenge the stereotype that chess is exclusively a male pursuit.
Professor Archer says: The show did something remarkable: it made chess look cool, dramatic, and accessible. The New York Times compared the interest surge to the chess mania after Bobby Fischer beat Boris Spassky in 1972. That comparison alone tells you how significant this moment was for our game.
Quick Quiz
What was the approximate increase in Chess.com signups following The Queen's Gambit premiere?
- A 10% increase in new members - The actual increase was far more dramatic. Chess.com reported a 500% increase in signups and gained 3.2 million new members in the weeks after the premiere.
- A 500% increase, with 3.2 million new members (Correct) - Correct. Chess.com reported a 500% increase in new member signups, gaining 3.2 million new members. By December 2020, 120,000 people were joining every day.
- About the same as a normal month - The Queen's Gambit effect was anything but normal. Roughly seven times as many people joined Chess.com in the four months after the show compared to the four months before.
- A brief spike that disappeared within a week - The surge lasted months, not days. The elevated signup rate persisted through at least December 2020, and the baseline of chess participation remains higher years later.