Series 2, Quest 5. Tony and team get advice from Treguard as they face the Combat Chess trial.

Combat Chess

By Keith McDonald

This room was a chess board for the dungeoneer knight to face the opposition bishop. It only featured in the second series.


Combat Chess was reserved for teams with members who were familiar with chess.

The room was reminiscent of a chess board, with a grid of dark and white squares.

Players used a knight's move - two squares vertically and one horizontally (or vice versa). The opposition bishop could only move diagonally.

The Combat Chess challenge, based on a handpainted scene by David Rowe, as shown on Series 2 of Knightmare (1988).

Dungeoneers had to reach the square by the exit. They were able to move backwards within the room or return to a previous position.

As a strategic game, this was slower than most other challenges. Teams averaged around four minutes in this room, and it lasted for only one season.

On our first day in the dungeon, Tim Child enters the green room, asking if any of us play chess, to which we reply 'yes'.

Tony Williams, Team 5

You Might Also Like...

Series 2 Quest 13

Series 2, Quest 13. Karen is hindered by a broken bridge at the Vale of Mogdred.

Team 13: Karen, Pamela, Angela and Nicola from Denholm (Hawick).

How Knightmare Began

The level one dungeon bomb room.

Part 1 of Tim Child's official history of Knightmare revisits how it all began - from the original idea in 1985 to getting a first series in 1987.

Series 2: Level 2

Series 2. The fire cave in Level 1.

The second level of the Series 2 dungeon included new spider and scarab rooms and a mine. All rooms are based on authentic handpainted designs.

See Also