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It's Check, Mate! Trivia Quiz

Here are some general questions about chess, mostly about its rules and terminology.

A multiple-choice quiz by wardcogge. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
wardcogge

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
298,977

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
930

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which opening starts with 1. e4 c5? Hint

Dutch defense

Russian defense

Sicilian defense

French defense

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Question 2 of 10

2. What's a gambit? Hint

Area under control of one colour

An early sacrifice to gain advantage

Exchange of knight and bishop

Risky move

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Question 3 of 10

3. There are three pieces on the e file: a white rook on e1, a black bishop on e7 and the black king on e8. What's the name for this? Hint

Skewer

Double check

Fork

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Question 4 of 10

4. There are three pieces on the same diagonal: a black bishop on b7, the white king on f3 and the white queen on g2. How is this called? Hint

Skewer

Double check

Fork

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Question 5 of 10

5. What's the maximum number of squares that can be covered by a queen (meaning that her next move can be to that square)? Hint

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Question 6 of 10

6. What material is usually insufficient to enforce mate against a king alone? Hint

Knight and bishop

Two knights

Two bishops

Rook

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Question 7 of 10

7. At least how many times does a pawn have to move during a game, in order to be promoted? Hint

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Question 8 of 10

8. When is a position called stalemate? Hint

Check, no legal moves

Check, legal moves

No check, legal moves

No check, no legal moves

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Question 9 of 10

9. If a white pawn moves from a2 to a4, which black pawn can capture it "en passant"? Hint

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Question 10 of 10

10. Who was world champion from 1927 to 1935, and from 1937 until his death in 1946? Hint

Wilhelm Steinitz

Emanuel Lasker

Paul Morphy

Alexander Alekhine

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which opening starts with 1. e4 c5?

Answer: Sicilian defense

It's one of the most popular openings. It usually continues with 2. Pf3 e6 or 2. Pf3 d6.

2. What's a gambit?

Answer: An early sacrifice to gain advantage

A player can choose to give a pawn, or occasionally even a full piece, away during the opening in exchange for a better position. Usually he can recapture a pawn a few moves later.

3. There are three pieces on the e file: a white rook on e1, a black bishop on e7 and the black king on e8. What's the name for this?

Answer: Pin

The black bishop is "pinned", meaning it's not allowed to move because that would leave the king in check.

4. There are three pieces on the same diagonal: a black bishop on b7, the white king on f3 and the white queen on g2. How is this called?

Answer: Skewer

The check has to be resolved, but if the white king moves, the black bishop can capture the white queen. White can only avoid losing his queen if he can capture the bishop or interrupt the diagonal with e.g. moving a pawn to e4.

5. What's the maximum number of squares that can be covered by a queen (meaning that her next move can be to that square)?

Answer: 27

The queen has to be on one of the four squares in the centre. E.g. when the queen is on d4, and there are no pieces in the way, she covers seven squares in the d file, seven squares in the fourth rank, seven squares in the diagonal a1-h8 and six squares in the diagonal a7-g1.

6. What material is usually insufficient to enforce mate against a king alone?

Answer: Two knights

It's only possible if the king alone is in an exceptionally bad position. The other three are always possible, although mating with knight and bishop can take up to more than thirty moves, even when played accurately.

7. At least how many times does a pawn have to move during a game, in order to be promoted?

Answer: 5

Its first move can be to the fourth rank. Then it needs four more moves to the eighth rank, where it can be promoted.

8. When is a position called stalemate?

Answer: No check, no legal moves

A player can't move a piece without breaking the rules, but his king isn't in check. This means the game is a draw.

9. If a white pawn moves from a2 to a4, which black pawn can capture it "en passant"?

Answer: b4

Black can play b4xa3, capturing the white pawn as if it had only progressed one square. Black can only do this in his first move after a2-a4. (Of course a pawn on b5 can also capture a4, but that wouldn't be "en passant".)

10. Who was world champion from 1927 to 1935, and from 1937 until his death in 1946?

Answer: Alexander Alekhine

He was a Russian emigrant in France, born in Moscow in 1892. Max Euwe (Netherlands) interrupted his reign for two years.

Source: Author wardcogge

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
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