Alma's unhealthy habits, such as drinking and smoking, likely contributed to her death from hepatitis in The Queen's Gambit. Viral hepatitis was a potentially fatal disease in the 1950s and 60s, with a lower survivability rate than today. Alma's death was necessary for Beth's character development, allowing her to confront her personal demons and overcome her substance abuse issues.

The death of Alma Wheatley in The Queen's Gambit was a shocking moment but ultimately necessary for Beth Harmon's character development. In the Netflix series The Queen's Gambit, Beth is orphaned at the age of seven following a car accident, with Alma and Allston Wheatley adopting her after several years. Soon after the adoption, however, Allston abandons the family, providing very little money for Alma and Beth to live on. The seemingly unfortunate turn of events is revealed to actually be in Beth's favor — the newfound need for additional income...