The chess puzzle in Blue Prince centers on a unique rectangular chessboard and chess pieces found within the house.
After lighting all four braziers and unlocking the Precipice, you’ll encounter a chessboard shaped like the estate’s blueprint, instead of the traditional square format. Nearby, there’s one of each type of chess piece.
No additional clues are given, leaving you to solve the puzzle independently. As you contemplate, you might recall seeing chess pieces in particular rooms.
Here’s how you can solve the chess puzzle in Blue Prince and find each chess piece.
How to Solve the Chess Puzzle in Blue Prince
The chess puzzle consists of a 5×9 chessboard aligning with the estate’s blueprint. Placement of pieces randomly yields no result, but occasionally, the tile beneath a piece will illuminate white, indicating correct placement.
To solve the puzzle, remember where you initially saw each chess piece, identify the specific rooms containing them, and place each piece in the corresponding location on the grid.
Keep in mind that each player’s solution is unique, requiring some luck to locate each chess piece.
Blue Prince Chess Piece Locations
Chess pieces remain in designated rooms. Knowing where to locate each piece will guide you in drafting the right rooms:
- Pawn: Found in the Bedroom, Parlor, Den, Storeroom, Guest Bedroom, Dining Room, Walk-in Closet, Drawing Room, Bunk Room, Secret Passage, Dormitory, Freezer, Solarium, and Lost and Found.
- Knight: Located in the Security Room, Observatory, Armory, and Treasure Trove.
- Bishop: Resides in the Chapel, Rumpus Room, Attic, and Bookshop.
- Rook: Found in the Nook, Vault, Clock Tower, and Conservatory.
- Queen: Located in the Study and Ladyship’s Chambers.
- King: Can be found in the Office and Throne Room.
If you have multiple rooms housing the same piece, such as the Pawn in the Bedroom and Parlor, you can position it in either room.
For a solution example, here’s an image showing my chessboard and blueprint:
Choosing Chess Piece Powers in Blue Prince
After solving the puzzle, walls will rise to reveal statues symbolizing each chess piece. You’ll choose one to gain a permanent power:
- Pawn: Upon reaching Rank 8 each day, select Knight, Bishop, Rook, or Queen to gain its power temporarily.
- Knight: Adds the Armory to your draft pool.
- Queen: Drafting a room in the Queenside (West Wing) costs 5 steps but grants 1 key.
- King: Select a color daily; rooms in that color are more likely to appear in drafting.
- Bishop: Skips tithes and grants 30 gold upon first entering the Chapel daily.
- Rook: Allows drawing floor plans up to 4 times when drafting corner rooms.
From our experience, the King proves to be the most effective, aiding in drafting specific rooms. The Knight also offers value through the Armory’s unique item, The Axe, which removes gem costs from a room. Use it judiciously.
Changing Chess Piece Powers in Blue Prince
If you’re unsatisfied with your chess piece’s power, simply solve the puzzle again to switch to another.
For further guidance on Blue Prince, explore our comprehensive walkthrough for reaching Room 46, a list of all safe codes, or solutions to challenging puzzles like the Gallery puzzle.
