For much of the novel, chess is a complex, primarily negative symbol for Mallory. Her enjoyment of it seeps through in some moments, such as her entry into the tournament room when she agrees to attend the charity tournament. She thinks to herself, “The smell in the room is like a childhood memory, made of familiar, simple notes: wood and felt and sweat and stale coffee, the bergamot note of Dad’s aftershave, home, belonging, betrayal, happiness, and—” but she cuts off her thoughts (25). This is because she has chosen to abandon chess, associating it with the pain of her father’s betrayal and everything that came after. Since chess was her father’s favorite sport, and she bonded with him through it, she associates it with him and chooses to avoid it completely. Even when she takes the chess fellowship, it is only out of financial necessity, and she attempts to keep her relationship with chess professional and limited to her required fellowship hours.

Despite her intentions, Mallory finds herself slipping back into her old obsessions with chess and her desire to win. Chess remains a somewhat negative symbol, but it slowly regains the more positive associations it used to have for her.