Chess Quiz

Its rules, openings, champions, history and legends.

1000+ questions in this theme

20 of them, with the answers

The questions, with answers

1. Which world champion died in 1946 while still holding the title?

   AnswerAlexander Alekhine

2. Which world champion, nicknamed "the Patriarch", was also an electrical engineer?

   AnswerMikhail Botvinnik

3. Which British mathematician wrote one of the first chess programs, on paper, around 1948?

   AnswerAlan Turing

4. Which piece can jump over other pieces in its normal move?

   AnswerThe knight

5. The 2006 Kramnik–Topalov match was dubbed "Toiletgate" because of what?

   AnswerOne player’s frequent bathroom breaks

6. In an endgame, what is it called when the two kings stand on the same file with one square between them?

   AnswerThe opposition

7. How many different first moves can White choose from?

   Answer20

8. When may an "en passant" capture be made?

   AnswerOnly on the very next move

9. In which country is the Tata Steel tournament, "the Wimbledon of chess", held each January?

   AnswerThe Netherlands

10. In which city was FIDE, the world chess federation, founded in 1924?

    AnswerParis

11. The Lewis chessmen, carved in the 12th century, were found in which country?

    AnswerScotland

12. Mittens, a famously tough Chess.com bot from 2023, looks like which animal?

    AnswerA cat

13. The "Immortal Game" of 1851 was won by which German player?

    AnswerAdolf Anderssen

14. Vasily Smyslov, world champion in 1957, almost became a professional what?

    AnswerOpera singer

15. In 1858, Paul Morphy played a famous game in Paris during a performance at which venue?

    AnswerThe Opera

16. What is promoting a pawn to anything other than a queen called?

    AnswerUnderpromotion

17. At most, how many squares can a single knight attack?

    Answer8

18. What happens to a pawn that reaches the far end of the board?

    AnswerIt is promoted to another piece

19. In crazyhouse, what can you do with the pieces you capture?

    AnswerDrop them back on the board as your own

20. In Lewis Carroll’s second Alice book, Alice starts as a pawn. What does she become at the end?

    AnswerA queen