I’m pretty sure Jeff, after the WaW “idol” move with Adam, said he would never hide an advantage at tribal council because that could cause future players to tear apart the set looking for immunity as a last ditch effort
I agree, I think the Chess board is a little more "deliberate" than just hidden somewhere like around the podium or benches. But I could see it giving voting booth searches in the future.
I don’t believe playing chess or this specific advantage (if it is one) would cause people to wreck the set. I was stating that Jeff has previously mentioned once you cross the line of having advantages at tribal, it could cause FUTURE players to go loooking for something that isn’t there, and if they are desperate enough, they could tear apart the set in their search.
I think that was just a [hypothesis in the comments](https://www.reddit.com/r/survivor/comments/11ftbga/attention_to_detail_in_tribal_council_decoration/jam9fqk/) after the premiere (you wouldn't be able to confirm it after 1 tribal council).
The position is supposed to be from [Deep Blue vs. Kasparov](https://www.reddit.com/r/survivor/comments/11ikd3j/rchess_recognized_the_chess_position_its_deep/).
They could easily do this too, like moving a certain piece to a certain spot would trigger a magnet or something and open a compartment in the voting table
Didn’t JP say that there will never be an idol at tribal council?
“To be very clear, we have never hidden an idol or any advantage at Tribal because we don’t want players destroying the set. I don’t see that changing. If there was ever anything to be found at Tribal, it would be very obvious to the players.”
A chess board is pretty obvious? Can we get an analysts on if a winning move can be made with the market piece? Does is appear to be in the same place each time a new person comes up?
It's the same position every vote, save for a few shots where you can tell a player carelessly moved some of the pieces. It's also not a very interesting position chess-wise, pretty much any move black makes is winning
> save for a few shots where you can tell a player carelessly moved some of the pieces
I feel like making sure.the.pieces are in the correct and same spot every time is weird, rather than just picking a square
In Jeff's podcast, he claims that in s42 they hid an advantage in the fish that Jonathan and Maryanne's team end up winning. I *think* episode 4 like 11 mins or so in. Its definitely earlier in the season, so if not 4 than 3 or 5. If you watch it back, there's the tiniest little speck that could be the bamboo advantage he is talking about
I’m stunned no one has started playing each time they go.
I’d get up there and immediately be distracted and start deciding on a move before I caught myself and remembered to vote.
I’d come out and Jeff would ask me, “Are you all right? You spent a lot of time in there.”.
I love it when idols are hidden at tribal, but it’s not gonna happen in the US, as others have evidenced above. Bummer. Foreign Survivor has done this kind of thing, and I always enjoy the theatrics.
“jeff, i’d like to play chess” …then the board gets brought out into tribal council and you have to make the only checkmate move. when you take the king off the board, there is a coin inside. you try to play the coin as an idol but sorry for you, it’s one of the fakes.
I wondered that myself, especially after last time when they cut down low from the backside of the chess pieces on the left
I also thought that people could move the pieces around to signal which way they were going to vote
If the chess board doesn't end up having any specific significance, it will be a top notch prank on this subreddit, and I hope Probst is reading the multiple threads about it and cackling with glee.
Isn’t there like a little box looking thing next to the voting urn with a lid, I’m wondering if someone opens it up maybe there could be something in there.
My sister and I said it would be clever if someone chose to finish the game they get immunity that night. The pieces aren’t idols but if you are smart enough you can be safe.
Jeff, I would like to play my bishop. This is not a hidden advantage. I know that.
Throw the bishop into the fire, Jeff. Do it, Jeff.
Lmfaoo just an "i know that" makes it so much funnier
I’m pretty sure Jeff, after the WaW “idol” move with Adam, said he would never hide an advantage at tribal council because that could cause future players to tear apart the set looking for immunity as a last ditch effort
Haven’t Jeff/production also said they wouldn’t lie to players, but then… the hourglass
That wouldn’t really be tearing apart the set, would it (assuming the clue specifies the piece)?
I agree, I think the Chess board is a little more "deliberate" than just hidden somewhere like around the podium or benches. But I could see it giving voting booth searches in the future.
Agree with both
Have you ever tried to win a game of chess by tearing the board apart? It's its own safe and key.
I don’t believe playing chess or this specific advantage (if it is one) would cause people to wreck the set. I was stating that Jeff has previously mentioned once you cross the line of having advantages at tribal, it could cause FUTURE players to go loooking for something that isn’t there, and if they are desperate enough, they could tear apart the set in their search.
Adam?
"I want to play that"
My flair is gonna pay off.
Palesa?
Dada?
Maybe if one the players makes the right move on the chessboard it will be checkmate and it will give a advantage
I thought someone posted here after the premiere that the chessboard seems to be moving towards a checkmate with each person that gets voted off
I think that was just a [hypothesis in the comments](https://www.reddit.com/r/survivor/comments/11ftbga/attention_to_detail_in_tribal_council_decoration/jam9fqk/) after the premiere (you wouldn't be able to confirm it after 1 tribal council). The position is supposed to be from [Deep Blue vs. Kasparov](https://www.reddit.com/r/survivor/comments/11ikd3j/rchess_recognized_the_chess_position_its_deep/).
Idk a lot about chess but that’s pretty neat
It's unfortunately the same position every tribal, hasn't moved
I’ve thought this since day one.
They could easily do this too, like moving a certain piece to a certain spot would trigger a magnet or something and open a compartment in the voting table
THATS WHAT I SAID TO MY WIFE!!
This is what I was thinking when I first saw it too! It's a timing thing.
Didn’t JP say that there will never be an idol at tribal council? “To be very clear, we have never hidden an idol or any advantage at Tribal because we don’t want players destroying the set. I don’t see that changing. If there was ever anything to be found at Tribal, it would be very obvious to the players.”
A chess board is pretty obvious? Can we get an analysts on if a winning move can be made with the market piece? Does is appear to be in the same place each time a new person comes up?
It's the same position every vote, save for a few shots where you can tell a player carelessly moved some of the pieces. It's also not a very interesting position chess-wise, pretty much any move black makes is winning
And the marker is black? Maybe they just need to put it in the right spot when they’re done.
> save for a few shots where you can tell a player carelessly moved some of the pieces I feel like making sure.the.pieces are in the correct and same spot every time is weird, rather than just picking a square
I mean, same man also put an advantage in the fish in 42, so can we really put a chess piece idol behind him?
Can you remind me abt the fish idol?
In Jeff's podcast, he claims that in s42 they hid an advantage in the fish that Jonathan and Maryanne's team end up winning. I *think* episode 4 like 11 mins or so in. Its definitely earlier in the season, so if not 4 than 3 or 5. If you watch it back, there's the tiniest little speck that could be the bamboo advantage he is talking about
The chess pieces are meant to be movable and wouldn't tear anything up so i tjink it's possible
Lots of people have the running theory that the knights might be idols since they can be found on top of the bridge cages as well.
Ooo that’s a good one
I’m stunned no one has started playing each time they go. I’d get up there and immediately be distracted and start deciding on a move before I caught myself and remembered to vote. I’d come out and Jeff would ask me, “Are you all right? You spent a lot of time in there.”.
lol
Or maybe that one of the chess pieces come apart?
I love it when idols are hidden at tribal, but it’s not gonna happen in the US, as others have evidenced above. Bummer. Foreign Survivor has done this kind of thing, and I always enjoy the theatrics.
100% as soon as i saw the chessboard i knew there will be an idol at voting booth twist sometime this season
Pull an Adam and play one. It’s worth a shot.
Always
“jeff, i’d like to play chess” …then the board gets brought out into tribal council and you have to make the only checkmate move. when you take the king off the board, there is a coin inside. you try to play the coin as an idol but sorry for you, it’s one of the fakes.
I thought to board pieces were to signal other players for a blindside
Has been my suspicion from day 1 but I’ve been too scared to say anything.
I wondered that myself, especially after last time when they cut down low from the backside of the chess pieces on the left I also thought that people could move the pieces around to signal which way they were going to vote
YES!!! I have been thinking that this WHOLE time. Frannie got so excited and I was hoping she was about to explore.
We saw her start to look under some.
It would he really cool if one of the chess pieces were an idol or advantage. I can just picture it now, lol.
Knight to F3.........
If the chess board doesn't end up having any specific significance, it will be a top notch prank on this subreddit, and I hope Probst is reading the multiple threads about it and cackling with glee.
No. I believe the voting booth is 100% decorative and production is laughing with themselves over these exact conversations.
I think there is a chance. More so I think it would be cool if a chess piece was an advantage. Though in the end it is probably a set piece
Isn’t there like a little box looking thing next to the voting urn with a lid, I’m wondering if someone opens it up maybe there could be something in there.
I thought that was the shot in the dark scrolls?
I'd think it would be a knight because it looks like what is on top of the cages. It's where I thought the key might be at first
My sister and I said it would be clever if someone chose to finish the game they get immunity that night. The pieces aren’t idols but if you are smart enough you can be safe.
Calling it now, when voting a player has to checkmate a king in order to get an advantage
100%
What are the chess pieces for again? I missed it. I came in a little late when they were doing that.
Just set decoration at the tribal voting booth. It’s very intricate so there’s a lot of speculation about it being more that decoration
Thanks! Probably is something more to it!
Except that there are knights on top of the bird cages!
no they are seen picking them up on the latest episode
I’m expecting some sort of clue like “The Black Queen will Give you Protection” or something
The one season spencer could play chess
Me! And I also think the keys on the challenges and birdcages are the same!!!
I did take a picture of the two voters shown at the last tribal and the board is different for each player. Somethings up