Q 01/05

On whose turn is the fool's mate, chess's fastest possible checkmate, delivered?

A) On White's first turn

B) On Black's second turn

C) On White's third turn

D) On Black's fourth turn

Answer · why

B) On Black's second turn

On Black's second turn, and only Black can do it, after White opens with the disastrous g4 and f3 in either order and the queen swoops to h4.

Q 02/05

Which chess opening arises after 1. e4 c6, preparing ...d5 while keeping the queen's bishop free?

A) Alekhine's Defence

B) Pirc Defence

C) Scandinavian Defence

D) Caro-Kann Defence

Answer · why

D) Caro-Kann Defence

The Caro-Kann Defence, named for 19th-century analysts Horatio Caro and Marcus Kann, sidesteps the classic flaw of 1...e6, which shuts that same bisho...

Q 03/05

Which German chess term describes a position where every legal move worsens things?

A) Zwischenzug

B) Luft

C) Zugzwang

D) Fingerfehler

Answer · why

C) Zugzwang

Zugzwang means 'compulsion to move': the player would be fine if allowed to pass, but chess never lets anyone skip a turn, and some endgames can only ...

Q 04/05

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

A) London

B) Moscow

C) Paris

D) Geneva

Answer · why

C) Paris

Paris was hosting the 1924 Olympics, and delegates at a team chess tournament staged alongside the Games founded FIDE on its final day, 20 July.

Q 05/05

Which chess move lets the king move two squares toward a rook, which then jumps over it?

A) Castling

B) Promotion

C) En passant

D) Double step

Answer · why

A) Castling

Castling is the only move in which two pieces move at once; players use it to tuck the king away safely and bring a rook into the game.