He was the one who gave us our first good look at the game of Backgammon. The oldest game in the world and one of the best examples of dark versus light in LOST. Locke first begins playing with Walt, and like the game, one side is light and one side is dark but both come together in community and friendship. Chess also brought several people together, but in more of a who has the upper hand type of way. Jack and Ben play chess in one of the mobisodes and the game clearly is more than just a way to pass the time. They are talking about leaving the island. Ben says Jack will want to come back while Jack thinks that couldn't be further from the truth. As the conversation becomes more aggressive, so does the game play. While the words make Jack seem in control of his actions and feelings, the chess board shows that it is in fact Ben who is ahead of the situation. That is the place we often find Ben; ahead of the game. As the two were having their match of chess, Locke was entangled in his own. He discovers the chess game on the computer at the flame and has brief words with Mikhail about it. "Ha! Don't waste your time. For ten years I have tried to defeat that game. But it was programmed by three grand masters. And it cheats." "Hmm. Well, I've played a lot of computers and I'm pretty sure they don't know how to cheat. That's what makes being human so distinctly wonderful." We all know how that particular game of chess went down, but what is most interesting to me is that statement by Locke. He is talking about his father, Ben, himself, and even if he doesn't know it- Mikhail as well. All of them "cheated" as Locke will mention again while talking to Ben. Locke feels that he is playing fair and working how the island wills him too. But Ben and his people are hypocrites. And now it is up to Locke to continue the game the island made him start.

Some of the games featured on LOST are makings of the people who play them. Games that only exist in the heads of those involved. Some we probably have packed away in a closet. But all of them represent a larger part of the show. In a way, the show is a huge game itself. We are watching each of the characters make decisions, moves, that will be countered. They are lead into traps and make ones of their own. Soon enough a fourth phase of the game will be played, but who knows what the rules will be this time.