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Quiz about Basic Chess Tactics Strategies and Openings

Basic Chess Tactics, Strategies, and Openings Quiz

Test your knowledge of basic chess tactics, strategies, and openings. Good luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by mkp51. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
mkp51

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
109,939

Updated
Jun 27 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1999

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. A chess game can be conveniently divided into three phases, commonly known as: Hint

beginning, middle game, checkmate

opening, middle game, conclusion

beginning, battle phase, end game

opening, middle game, endgame

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Question 2 of 10

2. During one of the earlier phases of a game, what is considered the most correct strategy for winning? Hint

Go for a quick checkmate.

Castle your king early and set up a strong defense.

Capture or neutralize the opponent's queen.

Gain control of the center of the board.

3. Black's king is positioned on d7, and a black rook occupies h7. There are no pieces on e7, f7, or g7. White moves a rook to a7 and puts the black king in check. Black cannot remove the check by capturing or blocking White's rook. This is an example of which chess tactic? Hint

discovered check

skewer

double attack

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Question 4 of 10

4. A series of moves designed to achieve a strategic or tactical goal on the chess board is known as a(n): Hint

sequence

succession

progression

combination

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Question 5 of 10

5. White moves his knight to b5, thereby simultaneously attacking a black bishop on d6 and the black queen on c7. What chess tactic has White employed? Hint

x-ray

discovered attack

knight fork

skewer

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Question 6 of 10

6. Black has a pawn on a2, a bishop on f7, and his king on d4. White has a pawn on h7, a knight on d6, and her king on f3. There are no other pieces on the board. Black moves his pawn to a1 and promotes it to a queen. What is White's next move? Hint

Kf4

Nb5+

NxB

h8Q+

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Question 7 of 10

7. A pawn that has no enemy pawn in front of it, either on its own rankfile or on an adjacent file, is known as a(n): Hint

passed pawn

backwards pawn

en passant pawn

doubled pawn

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Question 8 of 10

8. On the very first move of a game, what are the only pieces on the chess board that can be moved? Hint

pawns and queen

knights and queen

knights and bishops

pawns and knights

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Question 9 of 10

9. Both White and Black are left with only their king and one bishop on the board. Both bishops travel on white diagonals. Is checkmate possible?

Yes

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which chess opening is made up of the following sequence of moves?
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 Hint

Alekhine's Defense

Caro-Kann Defense

Queen's Gambit Declined

Ruy Lopez

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A chess game can be conveniently divided into three phases, commonly known as:

Answer: opening, middle game, endgame

The three phases are the opening, middle game, and endgame. The opening usually ends and the middle game usually begins when each player has fully "developed" his or her pieces. The end game begins when each player has only a few pieces on the board, and the game heads toward its conclusion.

2. During one of the earlier phases of a game, what is considered the most correct strategy for winning?

Answer: Gain control of the center of the board.

Gaining control of the center of the board is a key ingredient for ultimate victory in chess.

Answer: skewer

This is a perfect example of a skewer... capturing an opponent's piece by forcing an intervening piece out of the way. In this case, Black MUST move his or her king out of check, and there's no way the rook on h7 can be protected. White's rook on a7 will capture the black rook on h7 on the next move.

4. A series of moves designed to achieve a strategic or tactical goal on the chess board is known as a(n):

Answer: combination

A chess combination has been described as "a blend of ideas - pins, forks, discovered checks, double attacks - whick endow the pieces with magical powers." (Irving Chernev, chess Grandmaster)

5. White moves his knight to b5, thereby simultaneously attacking a black bishop on d6 and the black queen on c7. What chess tactic has White employed?

Answer: knight fork

This is a classic knight fork. Black must move his queen away from c7 or lose it. White will capture the black bishop on d6 on the next move.

Answer: h8Q+

White's only logical move is h8(Q)+... move her pawn to h8 and promote it to a queen. This puts the black king in check, thereby skewering black's newly promoted queen on a1. Black must move his king out of the way; White will capture the black queen on the next move, and will eventually force checkmate.

7. A pawn that has no enemy pawn in front of it, either on its own rankfile or on an adjacent file, is known as a(n):

Answer: passed pawn

Having a passed pawn is one of the most desirable situations in chess. Chess Grandmasters Fred Reinfeld and Irving Chernev's rules for passed pawns are: "1. Get a passed pawn; 2.) protect a passed pawn; 3.) Push a passed pawn." Properly handled, a passed pawn will almost always eventually be promoted, and will decide the outcome of a game.

8. On the very first move of a game, what are the only pieces on the chess board that can be moved?

Answer: pawns and knights

Only pawns and knights can be moved on the very first move of a game. All other pieces are blocked.

9. Both White and Black are left with only their king and one bishop on the board. Both bishops travel on white diagonals. Is checkmate possible?

Answer: No

In this instance, checkmate is not possible for either White or Black. The game is drawn.

10. Which chess opening is made up of the following sequence of moves? 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5

Answer: Ruy Lopez

This sequence of moves is the Ruy Lopez, also known as the Spanish Game. Invented by a 16th century Catholic priest from Spain, it is one of the oldest and most frequently used of all chess openings.

Source: Author mkp51

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