The Game of Chess Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sixteen

Each player begins the game with eight pawns, two knights, two bishops, two rooks, a King and a Queen each. The pieces are aligned in a nearly symmetrical fashion when they're placed on the board.

Answer: One

Assuming it is the first turn of the game, the pawn may only move one or two spaces forward. The very first time a pawn moves is when it may move two spaces. After a pawn has been moved, for the rest of the match, that particular pawn may now only move one space at a time.

Answer: Diagonally

A bishop may move diagonally, and it may travel as far as the player wants until it encounters an obstacle. If the obstacle is an enemy piece, the bishop may take the piece, and its turn completes upon doing so. If the obstacle is an allied piece, the bishop may not proceed further.

Answer: In an L or backwards L shape

The Queen can emulate many different pieces, but the knight is the only exception. It can, and is forced, to move around the playing field going in an L or backwards L shape moving pattern.

Answer: Unlimited/Until hitting an obstacle

Similarly to the Bishop and Queen, the Rook may move in a straight line until it encounters an obstacle. If the obstacle is an enemy piece, the Rook may claim it and end its turn immediately upon doing so. If the obstacle is an allied piece, the Rook may go no further.

Answer: Unlimited/Until hitting an obstacle

The Queen can completely emulate the role of a bishop or rook, though not both at once, by going as far in a straight or diagonal line as can be until encountering an obstacle. The only particular restriction the Queen faces is that it must commit to either a straight or diagonal line, and cannot do both in one turn.

It can switch between the two on separate turns at will, however, so it is best to view the Queen as if it is an amalgamation of a bishop and a rook.

Answer: One

The King is somewhat similar to a pawn, only the King is allowed to move backward if the player wants, and can also move diagonally at will without requiring an enemy unit to be sitting there.

The King is, essentially, a very poor man's version of a Queen. The King can move the same directions as the Queen, only the King is restricted to moving a maximum of one tile at a time, whereas the Queen can move freely straight or diagonally until encountering an obstacle.

Answer: They are in position to take your King on their next turn

In chess, the goal is to eliminate the other person's King. The King, like any other unit, is eliminated by claiming it. So, for example, if your friend just moved their bishop to where it has a clear diagonal path to your King, they can call 'check!' because their bishop is in position to take your King on the very next turn.

When a check is properly called, the opponent under check is required to move in a way where their King is not in direct danger. In the above scenario, this can be achieved either by moving a unit in the enemy bishop's path to protect the king, or it can be achieved if you have a way to immediately eliminate the bishop with your own piece.

Answer: Moving it to the farthest end of the board

If the player is able to safely guide their pawn all the way to the farthest end of the board, the closest row to the opponent player, the player gains the opportunity to promote the pawn. Technically, the player can promote their pawn to whatever they want other than a King.

However, there is realistically no reason to promote it to anything other than a Queen. So that is what will happen the vast majority of the time.

Answer: Checkmate

A 'check' is what happens when someone's King is endangered. A 'checkmate' is what happens when the King is endangered in a way where it is impossible to protect the King. The game ends when the King is taken, so if the player is placed in a position where it is impossible to protect their King, the game is over.