I posted this on the other board--but I think this is probably one of the most symbolic and greatest scenes in TV, ever. It took 5 seasons to come to fruition, took its time, was great.
It starts here, with the famous chess scene.
First, D'angelo explains all the correlation to chess and "the game", illustrating how each piece has a corollary to a player. D'angelo also explains a pretty arcane move in Chess, something that VERY rarely happens--a pawn being upgraded to a queen (Least powerful piece of the most powerful). In order for a pawn to do so, he has to stay on a straight, and dangerous course and he can only attack from side to side, and can only move in small, constrained movements--if he survives to the other side, he can become a queen. Brodie siezes on this specifically about the pawn "If I make it to the end, I'm top dog". (He directly references himself as a pawn, and talks about how the pawn has to be smart.)....D'angelo tells him though that the game is rigged against pawns, they die, quick, they be "out of the game early" (Illustrating the power of the pieces they are against.)
Then, Bodie begins realizing he's a pawn--and can't break out of the game (He's even a 'bald little fucker" like he described them). He even says it with Mcnulty "we're like the little bitches on the chess board". Mcnulty says "pawns", and remember, through the whole series Mcnulty comments how smart Brodie is (Like the Entrapment scene, or when he tricked the guys with the guns/prints--Brodie is a smart ass pawn).
Now, after Bodie spends his time carefully moving forward, climbing up the board slowly until he's running his own crew and making plans to take down Marlo (The King)...Then, he's attacked.
Notice how the attack is shot? Chris and Snoop are attacking on angles and making big movements (Queen, and a Bishop)...Bodie can not retreat, he also can't move from his corner, and he attacks back on an angle (Pawn). Then, a man comes up behind Bodie--look at how they specifically make him walk, he steps out one space, then walks a few in another direction and passes Bodie's soldiers/pieces (He's a knight, hopping over pieces, attacking behind the lines).
Bodie knew what he was, he explains it to McNulty, the game was rigged against him. His death scene is a chess game, with him being taken out of the game.