Chess is a two-player strategic board game that Professor X and Magneto often play when they are together. It symbolizes their "hostile-friend" relationship. The game is references several times in the franchise.
Appearances
X-Men
On Genosha, Magneto referenced the game by telling Sabretooth, 'I have made the first move'.
While visiting him in his plastic prison, Charles was playing chess with Magneto. As Charles leaves, Erik knocks his king over, indicating that Charles won the game.
X2: X-Men United
Charles and Erik play chess in X-Men (above) and X-Men: First Class (below).
Jean is playing a game of chess with Professor X, at the school, when they are discussing Nightcrawler's attack on the President, with Storm and Cyclops.
X-Men: The Last Stand
During the War on Alcatraz, Magneto applied the principles of chess into battle.
Near the end of the film, Magneto (having recently lost his powers) is in a park, where makes a metallic chess piece wobble. This indicates that his powers are returning.
X-Men: First Class
Charles and Erik were playing chess on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. They were later seen playing chess at the X-Mansion, while they were discussing Shaw starting World War III.
X-Men: Days of Future Past
When Wolverine arrives at the X-Mansion in 1973, and tell Charles about his mission a chessboard is seen.
On their way to Paris, Charles and Erik settle their differences over a game of chess.
Gallery
X- Men
X2: X- Men United
X- Men: The Last Stand
X- Men: First Class
X- Men: Days of Future Past
Trivia
- During the filming of X-Men, Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen needed a chess-master to teach them how to play chess, as they did not know how to play it.