Hell, no: Beth refuses draws and demands Beltik
Beth spots State Champion Beltik, rejects two draw offers on her way to four wins, then badgers the director about getting to play the best.
Harry Beltik's Best Moments
Every The Queen's Gambit moment featuring Harry Beltik, in story order. Played by Harry Melling.
13 moments · 26 min · by Favseen
- 01
- 02
Final against Beltik: Beth loses her cool
Harry Beltik strolls in late with coffee, the game goes badly, and Beth retreats to the bathroom to swear at the mirror and pull herself together.
- 03
Do you see it now? Beth shows Beltik the mate
Beltik refuses to resign, so Beth walks him through the forced finish in her head until he has to concede the state title.
- 04
Harry Beltik calls with condolences and an offer
Out of nowhere, Harry phones Beth about her loss to Borgov and offers to train her for the Soviets; she tells him to come over right now.
- 05
The gawky kid grew up: Harry's books are all old news
Harry arrives at the house with a stack of chess books and finds Beth has already read every one of them.
- 06
We're all prima donnas: anger as a potent spice
Beth says she plays by ear like Capablanca; Harry warns her stubborn anger narrows her vision and quotes his second grade teacher on spice.
- 07
Harry spent his tuition on new teeth
Beth can't work out what's different about Harry until he admits he fixed his teeth with his college money, and says it was worth it.
- 08
Wiped out five times: Harry tells Beth to read Borgov's games
After beating Beth repeatedly at speed chess, Harry insists Borgov needs years more work and hands her Leningrad 1962; she mocks him alone.
- 09
Study montage: I can fight against anyone but time
Beth reads the masters' words on attack and regret while Harry walks her through Smyslov versus Botvinnik and a possibly drugged tea.
- 10
Philidor, Diderot and why Harry fixed his teeth
Harry warns about going mad for vanity's sake, then confesses he was waiting for Beth to come back; she answers with Morphy and his shoes.
- 11
Harry admits he doesn't love chess the way Beth does
Over breakfast Harry says he's taught her all he knows and is leaving for his apartment; she has helped him see he isn't obsessed enough to win it all.
- 12
Harry Beltik tells Beth she smells like his father
Harry, now working at the supermarket, confronts Beth about her drinking; she lashes out at his job, and he wishes her luck anyway.
- 13
Benny, Harry, Matt and Mike call from New York: go beat him
The morning of the adjourned game, Benny's crew has worked the position all night and phones Moscow with variations, ending with Benny's send-off.