Typically, Ron isn’t very fond of his hand-me-downs (which includes everything from his clothes to his pet rat, Scabbers). (In the film, Ron’s chess set is a gorgeous recreation of the historic 12th-century Isle of Lewis chess pieces found in Scotland.) Ron teaches Harry how to play wizard chess using a hand-me-down set Ron received from his grandfather. It seems only natural that chess would make an appearance among the final challenges since it pops up repeatedly earlier on in the story. Among them, we find a terrifying three-headed dog, a mass of Devil’s Snare, a roomful of flying keys flitting around near a securely locked door, a game of wizard chess, and (in the book, at least) a lineup of potions – only one of which will allow someone to move through a wall of fire. The Hogwarts staff opts to guard the Sorcerer’s Stone with a variety of magical (or simply downright frightening) obstacles. This ultimate game of wizard chess has been the subject of much discussion and debate – both among Harry Potter fans and chess lovers – in the years ever since.

Professor McGonagall’s bewitched and larger-than-life chess pieces set readers’ imaginations on fire, and when the first film was released, fans couldn’t wait to see the game rendered in live action.

Although the climax of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is no doubt the moment that Harry faces off against a creepy combination Quirrell-Voldemort in front of the Mirror of Erised, a definite runner-up for the most dramatic moment in the story is when Harry, Hermione, and Ron engage in a spectacular game of wizard chess to reach the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Battle chess card game