Quizmo

Quiz on Chess

20 questions · June 19, 2026

Chess is a game of infinite complexity played on a simple eight-by-eight board, where two players command armies of sixteen pieces and navigate a landscape of strategic possibility that has captivated minds for centuries. From the opening gambits that shape the early battle to the endgame techniques that determine victory, chess rewards both deep calculation and creative thinking. Whether you're curious about legendary players, famous matches, the rules and tactics that govern play, or the rich history behind the world's most celebrated board game, there's always something new to discover. See how well you know this timeless game.

▶ Play today's quiz

Question 1

Easy

Which chess piece can move only one square at a time in any direction?

Source: The king is the slowest mover but the most precious — lose it and the game is over.

Question 2

Easy

How many squares does a standard chessboard have in total?

Source: Eight rows by eight columns gives 64 squares, alternating light and dark.

Question 3

Easy

How many pawns does each player start the game with?

Source: The eight pawns form a protective wall in front of the more valuable back-row pieces.

Question 4

Easy

Which color always makes the first move in a game of chess?

Source: White moving first gives a small but measurable statistical edge at the top level.

Question 5

Easy

Which piece moves in an L-shaped pattern across the board?

Source: The knight is the only piece that can jump over others, hopping in its signature L.

Question 6

Easy

What is the term for trapping the opponent's king with no escape?

Source: Checkmate ends the game instantly — the word comes from Persian for 'the king is helpless'.

Question 7

Easy

Which piece can move any number of squares diagonally only?

Source: Each side starts with two bishops, one locked to light squares and one to dark forever.

Question 8

Easy

When a pawn reaches the far end, into which piece is it usually promoted?

Source: Promotion lets a humble pawn become a queen, so a player can theoretically have nine queens.

Question 9

Easy

What is the special move where the king and a rook move together called?

Source: Castling is the only move where two pieces shift at once, tucking the king to safety.

Question 10

Easy

What happens when a player has no legal move but is not in check?

Source: Stalemate is a draw — a losing player can sometimes escape defeat by engineering one.

Question 11

Medium

What is the relative point value commonly assigned to a queen?

Source: The queen's nine points reflect its power to move like a rook and bishop combined.

Question 12

Medium

Which world champion famously lost a 1997 match to IBM's Deep Blue?

Source: Kasparov's defeat marked the first time a computer beat a reigning champion in a full match.

Question 13

Medium

What tactic attacks two enemy pieces at once with a single piece?

Source: A knight fork hitting king and queen is one of the most feared tactics for beginners.

Question 14

Medium

The pawn capture 'en passant' can only be made on which kind of opposing move?

Source: En passant punishes a pawn for skipping past capture by jumping two squares forward.

Question 15

Medium

Which American won the 1972 World Championship against Boris Spassky?

Source: Fischer's Cold War victory in Reykjavik turned chess into front-page global news.

Question 16

Medium

How many times must a position repeat to allow a draw claim?

Source: The threefold repetition rule stops games from looping endlessly with no progress.

Question 17

Medium

Which opening begins with the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5?

Source: The Ruy Lopez, named after a 16th-century Spanish priest, is still played at world-championship level.

Question 18

Hard

What is the fastest possible checkmate, delivered in just two moves, called?

Source: Fool's Mate needs only two moves, but requires White to play about as badly as possible.

Question 19

Hard

After how many moves without a capture or pawn move can a draw be claimed?

Source: The 50-move rule exists because most winnable endgames can be converted within that span.

Question 20

Hard

Which checkmate uses a knight to trap a king boxed in by its own pieces?

Source: In a smothered mate the king suffocates among its own defenders, helpless against a lone knight.

← See all quizzes in the archive