Holochess On The Starship Millennium Falcon

The passing of Peter Mayhew, the British actor who plays Chewbacca in Star Wars episodes III through VII, evokes scenes of holochess being played on the fictional starship Millennium Falcon.  The match between Chewbacca and R2-D2 entertained millions when “A New Hope,” the initial Star Wars movie (but actually episode IV), came out in 1977.  

Peter Mayhew's family announces his passing. Image from Peter Mayhew's Twitter account.

Holochess is a game of chess played with holograms rather than physical pieces. The players actually order their pieces to fight each other as the following scene from episode IV depicts.

Mayhew’s family shared the news that he had passed away by saying, “He put his heart and soul into the role of Chewbacca and it showed in every frame of the films from his knock-kneed running, firing his bowcaster from the hip, his bright blue eyes, down to each subtle movement of his head and mouth.” And we could add Chewbacca’s passion for holochess.

Mayhew brought the character of Chewbacca to life in the Star Wars movies. Image by Lucasfilm.

What looks like a variant of chess is known as dejarik, a game commonly played on starships and in homes throughout the galaxy. Like chess pieces, dejarik pieces vary in how they move. However, they also have varying attack and health values that relate to how much damage they can inflict as well as sustain respectively. In addition, dejarik pieces, rather than simply capturing an opponent, body slam the enemy in monster-smashing moves.

Body slamming may be a better tactic than Alekhine's gun. Image by Star Wars.

When George Lucas was completing the first movie, he had planned to use little people in costumes on a chess board to create a “chess scene.” However, because a movie completed a year earlier had such a scene, Lucas sought an alternative that evolved into the holographic monsters of dejarik. The scene in the first movie was so well-received that additional scenes were included in subsequent episodes and in comic books and novels.

Chewbacca contemplates the next move. Image by Wookieepedia.

Unlike chess players who usually resign civilly in a losing position, some dejarik players such as Chewbacca, a wooly Wookiee warrior, were notorious for becoming upset when losing. In fact, Han Solo advises R2-D2 to let Chewie, as Chewbacca is known to the starship crew, win because “it is not wise to upset a Wookiee” who are known for pulling “arms [of their opponents] out of their sockets when they lose.”

The holographic game entertains the crew on long voyages. Image by Wookieepedia.

At that point, C-3PO wisely recommends to R2-D2, “I suggest a new strategy. Let the Wookiee win.” Chewie is a loyal friend and first mate of Han Solo and the co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon, but he is a dangerous opponent.

Would you play a game with Chewbacca? Only if you were planning to lose.

Now, it's your turn. Do you think watching holochess in movies creates interest in the traditional game of chess and its variants? Post your comments below.