10. What is the significance of the chess game? (Blade Runner)
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This article is from the Blade Runner FAQ, by Murray Chapmanmuzzle@cs.uq.oz.au with numerous contributions by others.
10. What is the significance of the chess game? (Blade Runner)
The chess game between Tyrell and Sebastian uses the conclusion of a game
played between Anderssen and Kieseritzky, in London in 1851. It is considered
one of the most brilliant games ever played, and is universally known as "The
Immortal Game".
The Immortal Game, in algebraic notation, was as follows:
Anderssen - Kieseritzky (London 1851):
1 e4 e5 2 f4 exf4 3 Bc4 Qh4+ 4 Kf1 b5 5 Bxb5 Nf6 6 Nf3 Qh6 7 d3 Nh5 8 Nh4 Qg5
9 Nf5 c6 10 Rg1 cxb5 11 g4 Nf6 12 h4 Qg6 13 h5 Qg5 14 Qf3 Ng8 15 Bxf4 Qf6
16 Nc3 Bc5 17 Nd5 Qxb2 18 Bd6 Qxa1+ 19 Ke2 Bxg1 20 e5 Na6 21 Nxg7+ Kd8
22 Qf6+ Nxf6 23 Be7 Checkmate.
The chess boards in the film are not arranged exactly as they would in be the
Immortal Game, and Sebastian's board does not match Tyrell's.
The concept of immortality has obvious associations in the ensuing
confrontation between Tyrell and Batty. On one level, the chess games
represents the struggle of the replicants against the humans: the humans
consider the replicants pawns, to be removed one by one. The individual
replicants (pawns) are attempting to become immortal (a queen). At another
level, the game between Tyrell and Sebastian represents Batty stalking
Tyrell. Tyrell makes a fatal mistake in the chess game, and another fatal
mistake trying to reason with Batty.
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