Was Sherlock Holmes A Chess Player ?

[Truthhunter]

Although maybe depicted in films or alternate dramas, is it known if the original Sherlock Holmes was a chess player ?

 

I don't recall having read this in any book, though maybe overlooked it.

[T.o.b.y]

No, I can't recall anything either. The only hits I got when I typed "chess" in the search box of my Complete Sherlock Holmes e-book were

 

"Holmes looked at him thoughtfully like a master chess-player who meditates his crowning move." (from "The Mazarin Stone").

 

and

 

"Amberley excelled at chess—one mark, Watson, of a scheming mind." ("The Retired Colourman")

 

Interestingly, Holmes associates chess with not too positive traits. "A scheming mind" may be intelligent, but in this case at least, up to no good. And Watson compares Holmes to a chess-player. The old story about one's own image of oneself versus other people's...

 

In "The Sign of the Four", Watson remembers listing Holmes' fields of knowledge and his hobbies, if you can call them that, in the following manner:

 

"Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco."

 

No mention of chess there.

 

 

 

 

[Truthhunter]

Great answer !

 

It does surprise me, as chess usually entails thinking so many moves ahead of your opponent, so as a game, seemed suited to Holmes in my view, unless chess as a sign of intelligence was a stereotypical opinion, whereas Holmes was unique in his own way, and could not be categorised in the same way as others.

[T.o.b.y]

Maybe chess wasn't exiting and dramatic enough for him. Remember: "you're not a puzzle solver, you're a drama queen". That is quite true of the original figure as well, I think. At least it's what I've yelled at the books in my day, and so I really laughed when John actually said it to Sherlock.

[Redbeard]

Which brings to mind that funny scene were they set it up to look like Sherlock and Mycroft are concentrating on a game of chess, but then it is revealed they are playing Operation.    Well it does take nerves of steel!

[jesskayding]

I thought they were playing chess originally & then began playing operation. Mycroft exclaims " why are we playing games!" Plural... Then they play a deduction game. Knowing how fast their brains work... You could ruminate they played several games passing the time. Yeah they clearly showed a chess board, then the operation game.

[Carol the Dabbler]

They could have been playing chess earlier, sure -- the chess board isn't usually on the coffee table.

 

But the opening shot, where it looks like they're playing chess, is a deliberate optical illusion.  The cameraman is crouched down behind the chess board so that we see it but can't see the Operation setup.

 

I further deduce     that they had removed the "wild" (movable) wall behind the sofa, so that the camera could be far enough away from the coffee table that the chess board wouldn't look disproportionately large -- in other words, so the optical illusion would work.

 

[Truthhunter]

I was intrigued to see in the 2011 film 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' that a character who was making his own investigations, had taped photos of the suspects onto his chess pieces, but can't remember if he rated them according to their involvement, as in, pawns, knights, bishops, rooks, etc.

[jesskayding]

Uuhhhh. I's confuzzed

[jesskayding]

Ok. Because of this question I decided to watch TEH again. Because y'all were making feel like I was imagining things. I paused it at Sherlock saying " Boring. Your move." It is not an illusion, nor is it the operation game.

 

 

It is clearly & absolutely a chessboard. Mycroft is playing with the black pieces & Sherlock with the white pieces. I notice that Mark should probably remove his wedding ring. Per Mycroft is single. The board is a dark tan/light brown color.

[jesskayding]

Ok upon further inspection. I paused @ Mycroft saying " oh bugger ". I see @ that point where it could have been an optical illusion for that scene. Because the chessboard is sitting on the coffee table & it now obvious they are playing operation. Which does give it more character. Because @ no point does Mycroft or Sherlock get out of their seats to switch games.

 

 

Now I'm inclined to believe Sherlock can play chess really well even if he usually doesn't based off his interaction with the Caby in SIP. Also I further deduce that the chessboard is not usually out on Sherlock's coffee table. So he had to be playing it with someone. Not John because well John isn't talking with him yet. Certainly not Mrs. Hudson, I think Sherlock wouldn't be able to last 1/2 a second playing a game like that with her.

 

So because the universe is rarely so lazy, not a coincidence. Balance of probability... He was playing it earlier with Mycroft.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I notice that Mark should probably remove his wedding ring. Per Mycroft is single.

 

 

Was Mycroft wearing a ring on his left hand in that scene?  He does typically wear a ring, but on his right hand.  I believe Mark Gatiss wears one ring on each hand, so he apparently does (generally) remove his wedding ring for filming.

 

[jesskayding]

Interesting.. Does he have two wives?

[Caya]

Meet Ian Hallard. Well, we've all met him on-screen before, since Sherlock is truly a bring-your-family-to-work production :

 

[jesskayding]

Oh. Well a husband then.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I don't think we've ever heard what the other ring (which may double as Mycroft's ring) might signify.

 

[jesskayding]

Hmmm. Well inquiring minds want to know.

[Redbeard]

... Also I further deduce that the chessboard is not usually out on Sherlock's coffee table. So he had to be playing it with someone. Not John because well John isn't talking with him yet. Certainly not Mrs. Hudson, I think Sherlock wouldn't be able to last 1/2 a second playing a game like that with her.

 

So because the universe is rarely so lazy, not a coincidence. Balance of probability... He was playing it earlier with Mycroft.

 

Its also possible they were never playing chess at all.  Maybe they just had the game out and all set up in case John or Mrs. Hudson or someone else showed up during their game night.  Then they could quickly slide Operation under the couch and hurry in front of the chess board.   When Mycroft was referring to playing "games" plural maybe the other one was Cluedo.  lol

So we know that Sherlock keeps at least three games around his apartment:  Chess, Cluedo and Operation.  The only two we have actual confirmation that he plays are Operation and Cluedo. 

Come to think of it we don't even know if Operation and Chess are Sherlock's...Mycroft could have brought them over.  The thought of him walking down the street twirling an umbrella in one hand and clutching a game of Operation and a chessboard in the other strikes me as hysterically funny. 

[jesskayding]

Balance of probability Redbeard.... The above theory is reaching @ best. ( in my head I'm posting this in the voice of Mycroft)

 

 

Now back to my voice: Redbeard that's the kind of theory that Anderson would come up with.

 

A bit exaggerated don't you think. I'm reading the whole thing... Did I miss a mention of Darren Brown?!

[Carol the Dabbler]

I can imagine Mycroft bringing his chess set over -- that's sufficiently dignified, and maybe he's hoping to improve his brother's taste in games.  Don't believe I'd even seen Operation before, but that game board looked kinda retro -- so maybe it's something left over from their childhood?  Right -- I see that Wikipedia says it's been in production ever since 1965 -- shortly before they were born.

 

[jesskayding]

I have yet to see Mycroft carrying anything besides his umbrella & cellphone. Once in a while they seem to imply he carries a suitcase & newspaper.

 

After all he seemed vexed with his little brother because he wasn't taking the terrorist threat seriously. Based off their conversation, it was certainly Sherlock's idea to play games, because he just wanted to pass the time.

[Carol the Dabbler]

You're right, Sherlock was apparently being deliberately "difficult."  So he has a stash of games somewhere that we don't normally see -- maybe there's a storage room upstairs, next to John's old bedroom?  Or maybe nowadays John's old bedroom is the storage room?

 

[jesskayding]

I think Mrs Hudson may keep them in her place. She's probably the one that set everything up for them. She loved to wait on the boys hand & foot. She really did mother them.

 

 

Warning*****tangent alert**** warning ****tangent alert****

 

Hay I wonder if Mrs. Hudson had any children? Would be nice to have an episode where he ( have to be a son, per the way she coddles Sherlock and John) pop in to see his mom. That's a nice thought, unless he took after his dad & became some kind of gangsta.

[Redbeard]

I can imagine Mycroft bringing his chess set over -- that's sufficiently dignified, and maybe he's hoping to improve his brother's taste in games. 

 

Yes, Mycroft being the chess player also helps shed light Sherlock's opinion of chess players having "scheming minds" lol.  Oh that brotherly love.   

[Redbeard]

I think Mrs Hudson may keep them in her place. She's probably the one that set everything up for them. She loved to wait on the boys hand & foot. She really did mother them.

 

 

Warning*****tangent alert**** warning ****tangent alert****

 

Hay I wonder if Mrs. Hudson had any children? Would be nice to have an episode where he ( have to be a son, per the way she coddles Sherlock and John) pop in to see his mom. That's a nice thought, unless he took after his dad & became some kind of gangsta.

 

Interesting.  I think it would be great to see an appearance by a son or daughter of Mrs. Hudson.