Alice confronts Paul on his doorstep, then calls Beth a rounding error
Cold open: Alice drives to Paul's house begging for help, is turned away, and tells five-year-old Beth she is a problem to solve.
S1E7 · End Game
22 moments · 46 min of essential viewing in a 68-minute episode.
Moments, in order
Jolene turns up at Beth's door with news of Mr. Shaibel
Jolene reappears after years, teases Beth about her house, brings word that Mr. Shaibel has died and lays out her plan to become a lawyer and a radical.
Jolene tells Beth to stop digging and gives her a present
Jolene sees the pills and wine, cuts through Beth's Michelangelo self-pity, tells her to stop digging, then reveals she took the book years ago.
Car ride: Jolene on the law firm, Rick and wanting what Beth has
Driving to Methuen, Jolene explains the gifted car, the white firm that hired her for the times, and why she envies Beth's long run at the top.
Beth returns to her mother's trailer and remembers Deardorff
Beth and Jolene stop at the abandoned trailer; a Methuen flashback of Mrs. Deardorff on choices and consequences, and Beth decides never to go back in.
Shaibel's funeral: Deardorff's hip and the ten dollars
At the chapel service Jolene notes nobody is crying, reports Deardorff's fall after Beth left, and Beth confesses she still owes Shaibel ten dollars.
Beth finds Shaibel's wall of clippings in the Methuen basement
Beth goes back down to the basement where she learned chess, discovers Shaibel kept every article about her, and breaks down in Jolene's arms.
Beth refuses the Christian Crusade statement and gives the money back
The Crusade wants Beth to publicly denounce Soviet atheism; she calls it nonsense, says she is not sure she is a Christian, and returns their funding.
Benny hangs up on Beth: maybe is a loser's word
Beth phones Benny for Moscow money and company; he explodes at her for choosing drink over him and tells her never to call again.
Jolene pays for Moscow: we weren't orphans, that's what family does
Jolene offers her law-school savings for the trip, refuses the guardian-angel label, and tells Beth they have always been each other's family.
Flight rules from the State Department minder, then arrival in Moscow
On the plane Beth's escort lists the rules and asks her to watch Borgov for signals; she lands in Moscow, checks into the hotel and is welcomed to Russia.
The Moscow Invitational opens and Beth thrashes Laev in 27 moves
The tournament opens with a Huxley quote on the chessboard as the world; commentary explains how Laev underestimated the unknown American.
Luchenko attacks and the game is adjourned: did we win or lose?
Commentary sets up the former World Champion Luchenko, the game goes to adjournment, and Beth's minder has to ask what adjourning means.
Luchenko resigns with relief and calls Beth a marvel
Beth beats Luchenko with 25 minutes left; the old champion resigns graciously and says he may have just played the best chess player of his life.
Nightmare of Alice: close your eyes
Exhausted before the Borgov match, Beth relives her mother's row with Paul and the last moments in the car before the crash.
Borgov declines the Queen's Gambit and the final game begins
Commentary walks through the opening of Beth versus Borgov: her Queen's Gambit, his surprising rare line, her deviation from the Albin, through to adjournment.
Press scrum: Beth makes Time print William Shaibel's name
Mobbed by reporters, Beth sets the record straight about learning chess from a janitor, then a Lexington reporter turns out to be a familiar face.
Townes apologizes and becomes Beth's second
In her hotel room Townes explains the visa, they clear the air about Las Vegas, and Beth admits she asked for pills before realizing she does not need them.
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.
Borgov offers a draw and Beth refuses
The adjourned game resumes, Borgov goes off script and then offers Beth a draw; commentary weighs it, but Elizabeth Harmon loves to win.
Beth sees the board on the ceiling and Borgov hands her his king
Beth visualizes the endgame sober, Borgov resigns and gives her his king, the hall erupts, and Jolene watches at home.
Beth leaves the car and plays with the old men in the park
On the way to the airport Beth stops the car, walks to a Moscow park where the old men recognize Liza Harmon, and sits down to play.
Playlists touching this episode
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