Navigating the treacherous depths of the Raccoon City sewers stands as one of the most memorable segments in the Resident Evil 2 remake. To progress further into the Umbrella Corporation's secret laboratory, players must solve a complex environmental riddle involving electronic chess pieces. This guide breaks down the locations of the hidden items and provides the exact layout required to open the massive blast door.

Tracking Down the Missing Chess Plugs

Before you can begin arranging the pieces in the Monitor Room, you must explore the damp corridors to locate three missing electronic plugs. The Pawn, Bishop, and Knight pieces are already sitting inside their respective wall panels when you arrive. However, you will need to brave dangerous encounters with mutant creatures to retrieve the King, Queen, and Rook plugs scattered across the lower levels.

The King and Queen plugs are locked behind a maze-like storage room filled with deadly G-Mutants that require careful ammunition conservation. Reaching the Rook plug demands navigating the lower expansion area and using a special T-bar valve handle to raise a secret floodgate. Successfully gathering all six chess components is the essential foundation needed to resolve this underground engineering puzzle.

Solving the Scenario A Puzzle Layout

For players tackling their first playthrough, known as the A Scenario for both Leon and Claire, the clue on the wall offers vital hints regarding piece placement. The note dictates that the Knight and Bishop must not stand next to each other, while the Rook and Queen must face one another across the aisle. Following these rules establishes a distinct arrangement that shifts the heavy locking mechanisms of the central gate.

On the right wall, looking directly away from the locked door, you should insert the King, followed by the Queen, and finally the Pawn. The opposite left wall panel requires you to place the Bishop, the Rook, and the Knight in consecutive slots. Aligning these electronic keys in this specific sequence unlocks the heavy security bars and grants access to the medical bay.

Mastering the Scenario B Alternate Solution

If you are exploring the alternate timeline in a Second Run campaign, Capcom completely reshuffles the logic behind the puzzle to challenge veteran players. The environmental hints change significantly, indicating a brand new set of rules that renders the previous layout completely useless. Paying close attention to the visual differences in the room prevents unnecessary backtracking through monster-infested zones.

For the B Scenario, the left wall panel arrangement must be filled with the Queen, the Bishop, and the Knight from closest to furthest from the door. On the right side of the room, you must place the Pawn, the Rook, and the King into their designated slots. Activating these terminals reveals a unique power signature that opens the exit just as efficiently as the first playthrough.