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Basic Rules of Chess Trivia Quiz

Test your knowledge of the official rules of chess, as compiled by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Good luck!

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

Author
mkp51

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
109,534

Updated
May 01 24

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
8013

Last 3 plays: Guest 66 (5/10), Guest 104 (7/10), survivorgirl13 (6/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. How many playing squares are there on a standard chess board? Hint

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Question 2 of 10

2. At the beginning of a game of chess, how many chess pieces does each player have (pawns are considered pieces)? Hint

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Question 3 of 10

3. The object of the game of chess is to achieve checkmate. What is the definition of checkmate? Hint

Capture the opponent's king.

Place your opponent's king in "check," with no legal move available to remove the king from "check."

Capture all your opponent's pieces.

Capture your opponent's king and queen.

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Question 4 of 10

4. What legal moves may a bishop make? Hint

Any number of open squares along the diagonal on which it stands, or capture an opponent's piece along the diagonal on which it stands.

One square at a time in any direction; capture a piece on any adjoining square.

Any number of open squares along the rank or file on which it stands, or capture a piece along a diagonal on which it stands.

Two open squares at a time along any diagonal row; may not capture.

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Question 5 of 10

5. When castling, a player is permitted to move his or her king how many squares? Hint

Two squares when castling king's side; three squares when castling queen's side.

One square when castling king's side; two squares when castling queen's side.

Three squares when castling to either king's or queen's side.

Two squares when castling to either king's or queen's side.

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Question 6 of 10

6. Under what conditions may a player not castle his/her king for the time being? Hint

A piece occupies a square between the king and the rook.

All the listed choices.

The king is in "check."

A square that the king crosses over, or on which it will land, exposes it to "check."

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which is the only chess piece that can legally jump over a piece of the same color or an opponent's piece? Hint

pawn

rook

queen

knight

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Question 8 of 10

8. When a player puts his or her opponent's king in danger of capture, he or she MUST declare "check."

True

False

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Question 9 of 10

9. Under which condition(s) may a draw be declared? Hint

The only two pieces left on the board are each player's king.

The king of the player having the move is not in check, but the player has no legal moves.

Each player makes 50 consecutive moves without moving a pawn or capturing a piece.

All the listed choices.

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Question 10 of 10

10. When a player's pawn reaches the last rank, it may or may not be promoted, at the player's discretion.

True

False

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 18 2024 : Guest 66: 5/10
Dec 16 2024 : Guest 104: 7/10
Dec 13 2024 : survivorgirl13: 6/10
Dec 09 2024 : Guest 174: 5/10
Dec 09 2024 : Guest 184: 1/10
Dec 07 2024 : Guest 174: 10/10
Dec 07 2024 : robbonz: 9/10
Dec 04 2024 : Guest 78: 10/10
Dec 01 2024 : Guest 74: 7/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How many playing squares are there on a standard chess board?

Answer: 64

The standard chess board is made up of eight rows of eight squares in each row, alternately light and dark colored, for a total of 64 squares. However, if you count 'squares of all sizes' there are 204.

2. At the beginning of a game of chess, how many chess pieces does each player have (pawns are considered pieces)?

Answer: 16

At the beginning of a game, each player has 16 pieces at his or her disposal: 1 king, 1 queen, 2 bishops, 2 knights, 2 rooks, and 8 pawns. One player has light colored (white) pieces, and the other player dark colored (black) pieces.

3. The object of the game of chess is to achieve checkmate. What is the definition of checkmate?

Answer: Place your opponent's king in "check," with no legal move available to remove the king from "check."

Checkmate is defined as placing your opponent's king in "check" (in danger of immediate capture), with no legal move available to remove the king from "check." It is often very difficult and challenging to achieve checkmate.

4. What legal moves may a bishop make?

Answer: Any number of open squares along the diagonal on which it stands, or capture an opponent's piece along the diagonal on which it stands.

The bishop may move any number of open squares in a straight line diagonal, and capture an opponent's piece along that diagonal row. One bishop always remains on dark-colored squares, and one on light colored squares.

5. When castling, a player is permitted to move his or her king how many squares?

Answer: Two squares when castling to either king's or queen's side.

When castling, the player moves his or her king two squares along the back rank whether castling either to the king's or queen's side. The rook moves over the king to the square next to the king on the same rank.

6. Under what conditions may a player not castle his/her king for the time being?

Answer: All the listed choices.

All these choices prevent castling for the time being. As long as the player does not move either the king or rook when blocking an opponent's "check" the player may later castle his or her king. Moving a piece from a square between the king and rook also makes castling legal.

The official rules of chess also state that a player must touch his or her king and move it before moving the rook.

7. Which is the only chess piece that can legally jump over a piece of the same color or an opponent's piece?

Answer: knight

The knight is the only piece that can jump over other pieces. Its move is unique; it moves "one square along a rank or file, and then, still moving away from the square it started on, one step of one square along a diagonal." The effect is an "L"-shaped move.

8. When a player puts his or her opponent's king in danger of capture, he or she MUST declare "check."

Answer: False

False. The official rules of chess specifically state that declaring "check" is NOT required.

9. Under which condition(s) may a draw be declared?

Answer: All the listed choices.

All three of the listed choices results in a draw. There are several other conditions leading to a draw. Among them: king versus king, bishop, and knight; king and bishop versus king and bishop with both bishops on the same colored diagonals; and upon agreement of both players.

10. When a player's pawn reaches the last rank, it may or may not be promoted, at the player's discretion.

Answer: False

False. The official rules of chess state that a player MUST promote a pawn that reaches the last rank. The player may choose which piece to which the pawn will be promoted.

Source: Author mkp51

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

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