TO SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT [email protected].
THESE ARE STIMULATING QUIZZES, SO ENJOY! TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE! THERE ARE 150 QUESTIONS IN TOTAL.
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 1
1. WHAT TWO PERSONS FOUNDED THE PROFESSIONAL CHESS ASSOCIATION IN 1993?
A: ANAND AND KASPAROV
B: KARPOV AND KASPAROV
C: ANAND AND KRAMNIK
D: SHORT AND KASPAROV
2. HOW OLD WAS EMANUEL LASKER WHEN HE BECAME WORLD CHESS CHAMPION?
A: 20
B: 23
C: 25
D: 27
3. IN CHESS NOTATION, WHAT LETTER IS USED TO SYMBOLIZE THE BISHOP IN THE
GERMAN LANGUAGE?
A: L
B: A
C: F
D: C
4. THE FEGATELLO ATTACK IS AN OPENING SEQUENCE THAT ARISES OUT OF WHAT
CHESS DEFENSE?
A: TWO KNIGHTS
B: FRENCH
C: CARO-KANN
D: CENTER-COUNTER
5. HOW MANY CONDITIONS DID BOBBY FISCHER SUBMIT TO THE FIDE FOR HIS
DEFENSE OF THE WORLD CHESS TITLE IN 1975?
A: 159
B: 169
C: 179
D: 189
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 2
1. WHAT GRANDMASTER�S LIFE WAS THE MUSICAL �CHESS� BASED ON?
A: ANATOLY KARPOV
B: VIKTOR KORCHNOI
C: GARRY KASPAROV
D: DAVID BRONSTEIN
2. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT A NAME DESCRIBING AN UNTALENTED CHESS
PLAYER?
A: WOODPUSHER
B: PATZER
C: DUFFER
D: LUFT
3. IN THE 1972 WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH, WHAT WAS BOBBY
FISCHER�S OPENING MOVE AGAINST SPASSKY IN GAME 6?
A: Nf3
B: c4
C: Nc3
D: f4
4. UNDER THE CURRENT OFFICIAL USCF RULES OF CHESS, HOW MANY WAYS
ARE POSSIBLE FOR A GAME TO BE DECLARED DRAWN?
A: 7
B: 8
C: 9
D: 10
5. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING CHESS FEDERATIONS WAS FOUNDED FIRST?
A: HUNGARIAN
B: FRENCH
C: BELGIUM
D: NORWEGIAN
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 3
1. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BOOKS WAS NOT WRITTEN BY FORMER WORLD CHESS
CHAMPION BOBBY FISCHER?
A: �I WAS TORTURED IN THE PASADENA JAILHOUSE!�
B: �MY 60 MEMORABLE GAMES�
C: �BOBBY FISCHER VS. THE REST OF THE WORLD�
D: �BOBBY FISCHER TEACHES CHESS�
2. IN 1930, WHAT COUNTRY BANNED BLINDFOLD CHESS EXHIBITIONS BECAUSE THEY
WERE CONSIDERED A HEALTH HAZARD ON THE BRAIN?
A: USSR
B: CHINA
C: FRANCE
D: BRAZIL
3. WHAT WAS THE FIRST COMPUTER TO PLAY IN A U.S. OPEN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP?
A: BELLE
B: SNEAKY PETE
C: SARGON
D: CRAY BLITZ
4. WHO COINED THE CHESS TERM �HYPERMODERN�, REFERRING TO A STYLE OF PLAY
THAT FLOURISHED IN THE 1920s?
A: RICHARD RETI
B: ARON NIMOZOVITCH
C: SAVIELLY TARTAKOVER
D: GYULA BREYER
5. WHAT CHESS PLAYER GETS CREDIT FOR SAYING �CHESS IS RUTHLESS: YOU�VE
GOT TO BE PREPARED TO KILL PEOPLE�?
A: GATA KAMSKY
B: ANTHONY MILES
C: ROBERT BYRNE
D: NIGEL SHORT
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 4
1. IN WHAT MONTH AND YEAR DID THE MANHATTAN CHESS CLUB CLOSE?
A: SEPTEMBER 2001
B: JANUARY 2002
C: MAY 2002
D: AUGUST 2002
2. WHAT CHESS PLAYER WON THE FIRST INTERZONAL TOURNAMENT?
A: DAVID BRONSTEIN
B: PAUL KERES
C: IGOR BONDAREVSKY
D: YEFIM GELLER
3. WHAT WAS THE PROFESSION OF BRITISH CHESS PLAYER HENRY BIRD?
A: ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
B: CONCERT PIANIST
C: ACCOUNTANT
D: INSURANCE SALESMAN
4. HATING TO LOSE SO BADLY, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING CHESS PLAYERS ONCE
THREW AN OPPONENT OUT THE WINDOW AFTER LOSING A GAME?
A: CARLOS TORRE
B: AKIBA RUBINSTEIN
C: WILLIAM STEINITZ
D: JOSEF HENRY BLACKBURNE
5. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING EVENTS IN CHESS HISTORY DID NOT OCCUR IN THE
1980S?
A: REDMAN ELECTED USCF PRESIDENT
B: FISCHER FILES PATENT FOR DIGITAL CHESS CLOCK
C: FORMATION OF US CHESS HALL OF FAME
D: FIDE MASTER TITLE FIRST INTRODUCED
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 5
1. HOW MANY GAMES WOULD THERE BE IN A 4 ROUND SWISS SYSTEM CHESS
TOURNAMENT WITH 17 PLAYERS, ASSUMING THERE WERE NO FORFEITS,
WITHDRAWLS, OR HALF-POINT BYES?
A: 28
B: 32
C: 36
D: 40
2. WHICH CITY HOSTED THE FIRST UNOFFICIAL CHESS OLYMPIAD?
A: LONDON
B: MADRID
C: PARIS
D: ATHENS
3. WHAT U.S. PRESIDENT ESTABLISHED THE FIRST NATIONAL CHESS DAY?
A: JOHN F. KENNEDY
B: RICHARD NIXON
C: GERALD FORD
D: JIMMY CARTER
4. IN WHAT YEAR WAS THE FIDE RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC
COMMITTEE AS AN INTERNATONAL SPORTS FEDERATION?
A: 1997
B: 1999
C: 2001
D: 2003
5. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE LEARNED HOW TO PLAY CHESS AT THE AGE
OF 5?
A: JUDIT POLGAR
B: BORRIS SPASSKY
C: ANATOLY KARPOV
D: PAUL KERES
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 6
1. IN THE MOVIE �SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER�, WHAT DID
JOSH WAITZKIN�S SCHOOL TEACHER COMPARE THIS �CHESS
THING� WITH?
A: CHECKERS
B: PINOCHLE
C: MONOPOLY
D: BACKGAMMON
2. 1. e4 e5. 2. Ne2 IS THE STANDARD MOVE SEQUENCE OF WHAT CHESS OPENING?
A: ALAPIN�S OPENING
B: LOPEZ OPENING
C: PORTUGUESE OPENING
D: PARHAM ATTACK
3. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IS NOT TRUE ABOUT FORMER WORLD
CHESS CHAMPION GARRY KASPAROV?
A: DEFENDED TITLE MORE THAN ANY CHAMPION
B: HIGHEST FIDE RATING WAS 2851
C: NAMED SOVIET UNION SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
D: WON 15 TOURNAMENTS IN A ROW FROM 1981 TO 1990
4. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WAS NOT ONE OF THE FIFTEEN
FOUNDING COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD CHESS FEDERATION?
A: FINLAND
B: CANADA
C: ARGENTINA
D: NORWAY
5. ALEGBRAIC NOTATION WAS INTRODUCED IN �CHESS LIFE� MAGAZINE IN WHAT
YEAR?
A: 1965
B: 1969
C: 1973
D: 1976
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 7
1. SEEN ON USCF CROSS TABLES, WHAT LETTER IS USED TO REPRESENT A GAME
WON BY FORFEIT?
A: X
B: F
C: U
D: B
2. HOW MANY TIMES DID BOBBY FISCHER WIN THE U.S. CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP?
A: 6
B: 7
C: 8
D: 9
3. WHAT GRANDMASTER WAS CONSULTED ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF IBM�S CHESS
COMPUTER DEEP BLUE?
A: PATRICK WOLFF
B: JOEL BENJAMIN
C: LARRY EVANS
D: BORIS GULKO
4. WHAT WAS RESTING IN FORMER WORLD CHESS CHAMPION ALEXANDER ALEKINE�S
LAP WHEN HE WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS CHAIR IN HIS ESTORIL HOTEL ROOM?
A: TWO CATS
B: SMALL CHESS SET
C: UNFINISHED BOOK ON CHESS ENDGAMES
D: OLD LOVE LETTER FROM FIRST WIFE
5. WHO WAS THE FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CHESS FEDERATION?
A: KIRK HOLLAND
B: MAURICE KUHNS
C: GEORGE STURGIS
D: L. WALTER STEVENS
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 8
1. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS WAS NOT TRUE OF THE BADEN-BADEN 1870
CHESS TOURNAMENT?
A: ADOLF ANDERSSEN DECLARED WINNER
B: FIRST TOURNAMENT INTERRUPTED BY WAR
C: PLAYERS DID NOT HAVE OPTION OF USING HOUR-GLASSES AS
CHESS CLOCKS
D: HELD IN GERMANY
2. IN WHAT YEAR WAS THE FIRST ALL-RUSSIAN CHESS FEDERATION FORMED?
A: 1871
B: 1886
C: 1900
D: 1914
3. WHAT WAS SIEGBERT TARRASCH�S EXCUSE FOR LOSING TO LASKER IN THE 1908
WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHP MATCH?
A: INFLUENCE OF SEA-AIR
B: NOT ENOUGH EXERCISE
C: TOO MANY SPECTATORS
D: INFLUENZA
4. HOW MUCH MONEY DID MIKHAIL BOTVINNIK RECEIVE FOR WINNING HIS FIRST
WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH?
A: $1,000
B: $2,500
C: $5,000
D: $10,000
5. ACCORDING TO THE ELO CHESS RATING SCALE, NAMED AFTER PROFESSOR ARPAD
E. ELO, WHAT PROBABILITY DOES A PLAYER HAVE OF WINNING A GAME AGAINST
A 400 POINT HIGHER RATED OPPONENT?
A: 4 PERCENT
B: 8 PERCENT
C: 11 PERCENT
D: 15 PERCENT
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 9
1. WHAT IS THE MAIN POSITIONAL DRAWBACK FOR BLACK IN THE DUTCH DEFENSE
AGAINST THE QUEENS PAWN CHESS OPENING?
A: QUEENSIDE WEAKNESS
B: DARK SQUARE WEAKNESS
C: WHITE SQUARE WEAKNESS
D: KNIGHT WEAKNESS
2. BETWEEN 1939 AND 1952, USCF RULES STATED THAT DRAWS COULD NOT BE
ACCEPTED BY MUTUAL CONSENT UNTIL HOW MANY MOVES WERE MADE?
A: 20
B: 25
C: 30
D: 40
3. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING QUOTES IS FORMER WORLD CHESS CHAMPION BOBBY
FISCHER NOT CREDITED FOR SAYING?
A: �DON�T EVEN MENTION LOSING TO ME. I CAN�T STAND TO THINK OF IT�
B: �DIFFERENT PEOPLE FEEL DIFFERENTLY ABOUT RESIGNING�
C: �CHESS IS WAR OVER THE BOARD. THE OBJECT IS TO CRUSH THE OPPONENTS
MIND�
D: �I LOOK ONE MOVE AHEAD�THE BEST!�
4. IN WHAT COUNTRY WAS THE FIRST TEAM CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE DEAF
HELD?
A: AUSTRIALA
B: NORWAY
C: CHILE
D: MONGOLIA
5. WHAT IS THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHESS OPENING CODE FOR THE SICILIAN
SCHEVENINGEN, KERES ATTACK?
A: B66
B: B75
C: B81
D: B94
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 10
1. BOBBY FISCHER'S ARTICLE �THE RUSSIANS HAVE FIXED WORLD CHESS� WAS
PUBLISHED IN A 1962 ISSUE OF WHAT MAGAZINE?
A: U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT
B: TIME
C: NEWSWEEK
D: SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
2. IN WHAT YEAR DID THE FIRST USCF RATING LIST APPEAR IN CHESS LIFE
MAGAZINE?
A: 1945
B: 1950
C: 1955
D: 1960
3. WHAT ACTOR WANTED TO BE ON HIS HIGH SCHOOL CHESS TEAM, BUT THE
TEAM SAID HE WAS TOO SMALL?
A: WILL SMITH
B: WOODY ALLEN
C: ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
D: DANNY DEVITO
4. WHO WAS AWARDED A SILVER CUP FOR WINNING THE FIRST BRILLIANCY PRIZE
FOR A CHESS TOURNAMENT?
A: HARRY PILLSBURY
B: AARON NIMZOWITSCH
C: PAUL MORPHY
D: HENRY BIRD
5. OF THE 567 CHESS GAMES PLAYED IN HIS LIFE, HOW MANY DID FORMER
WORLD CHAMPION JOSE CAPABLANCA LOSE?
A: 36
B: 49
C: 61
D: 80
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 11
1. ACCORDING TO THE CURRENT OFFICIAL USCF RULES OF CHESS, WHICH OF THE
FOLLOWING BASIC SWISS SYSTEM PAIRING RULES GENERALLY HAS THE LEAST
PRIORITY?
A: EQUALIZING COLORS
B: UPPER HALF VS. LOWER HALF
C: EQUAL SCORES
D: ALTERNATING COLORS
2. WHAT WAS THE FIRST TIE-BREAKING SYSTEM USED IN CHESS TOURNAMENTS?
A: KASHDAN
B: MODIFIED MEDIAN
C: SOLKOFF
D: SONNEBORN-BERGER
3. THE DEATH DATE ON WHAT WORLD CHESS CHAMPION�S TOMBSTONE IS WRONG?
A: EMANUEL LASKER
B: MIKHAIL TAL
C: ALEXANDER ALEHKINE
D: MACHGIELIS EUWE
4. IN WHAT YEAR WAS THE FIRST TELEPHONE CHESS MATCH PLAYED?
A: 1876
B: 1878
C: 1880
D: 1883
5. WHAT PERSON GETS CREDIT FOR CREATING THE LONGEST CHESS PROBLEM, A
CHECKMATE IN 280 MOVES?
A: STANISLAW ULAM
B: J.G. MAULDON
C: OTTO BLATHY
D: JOHN D. BEASLEY
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 12
1. IN WHAT CITY WAS THE FIRST ROUND ROBIN CHESS TOURNAMENT PLAYED?
A: MADRID
B: NEW YORK
C: MOSCOW
D: LONDON
2. IN WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING YEARS DID ROBERT BYRNE NEITHER WIN NOR TIE
FOR FIRST PLACE IN THE U.S. OPEN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP?
A: 1960
B: 1963
C: 1964
D: 1966
3. RICHARD RETI PLAYED IN WHAT TWO COUNTRY�S NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
IN THE SAME YEAR?
A: GERMANY AND HUNGARY
B: CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND HUNGARY
C: POLAND AND GERMANY
D: CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND GERMANY
4. AFTER WINNING THE 1911 SAN SEBASTIAN CHESS TOURNAMENT, AKIBA
RUBINSTEIN WAS TAKEN TO A LEADING PYSCHO-NEUROLOGIST BY WHOM?
A: FATHER
B: TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
C: LAST ROUND OPPONENT
D: COACH
5. WHAT PLAYER DEVISED THE CHESS TERM �FAMILY CHECK�?
A: REUBEN FINE
B: ISSAC BOLSLAVSKY
C: YEFIM BOGOLJUBOV
D: HANS KMOCH
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 13
1. IN WHAT YEAR DID THOMAS WILSON INVENT THE FIRST MECHANICAL CHESS CLOCK?
A: 1862
B: 1874
C: 1883
D: 1900
2. THE NEW PAWN CHESS MOVE, ALLOWING ADVANCMENT FROM TWO SQUARES TO ONE
ON ITS FIRST MOVE, WAS FIRST INTRODUCTED IN WHAT COUNTRY?
A: PORTUGAL
B: SWEDEN
C: SPAIN
D: AUSTRIA
3. THE MASON-MACKENZIE CHESS GAME AT LONDON 1882 WAS FAMOUS FOR WHAT?
A: 72 CONSECUTIVE QUEEN MOVES
B: 55 CHECKS
C: NO EXCHANGING OF PIECES UNTIL MOVE 40
D: SIX PAWN PROMOTIONS
4. WHAT CHESS PLAYER GETS CREDIT FOR SAYING �THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF
SACRIFICES: CORRECT ONES AND MINE�?
A: JAN TINMAN
B: FRANK MARSHALL
C: MIGUEL NAJDORF
D: MIKHAIL TAL
5. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING CHESS PLAYERS REACHED HIS FINAL GRANDMASTER
NORM AT THE AGE OF 12 YEARS, 7 MONTHS?
A: SERGEY KARJAKIN
B: BU XIANGZHI
C: TEIMOUR RADJABOV
D: MAGNUS CARLSEN
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 14
1. WHO WAS INDUCTEED INTO THE U.S. CHESS HALL OF FAME IN 1999?
A: EDMAR MEDNIS
B: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
C: DONALD BYRNE
D: KENNETH HARKNESS
2. HOW MUCH MONEY DID BOBBY FISCHER WIN FOR DEFEATING BORIS SPASSKY IN
THEIR 1992 WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP REMATCH?
A: 1.5 MILLION
B: 3.5 MILLION
C: 5 MILLION
D: 8 MILLION
3. WHAT IS THE FIRST MOVE OF THE AMAR CHESS OPENING?
A: f3
B: Na3
C: Nh3
D: e3
4. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING CHESS PLAYERS WAS NOT RANKED IN THE TOP TEN AS
OF THE JANUARY 2006 FIDE LISTING?
A: ALEXANDER GRISCHUK
B: RUSLAN PONOMARIOV
C: BORIS GELFAND
D: VASSILY IVANCHUK
5. A DEMONSTRATION BOARD WAS FIRST USED IN WHAT WORLD CHESS
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH?
A: STEINITZ-ZUKERTORT
B: STEINITZ-CHIGORIN
C: LASKER-STEINITZ
D: LASKER-MARSHALL
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 15
1. WHAT COUNTRY FOUNDED THE FIRST NATIONAL CHESS ASSOCIATION?
A: CANADA
B: SCOTLAND
C: INDIA
D: CHILE
2. IN THE UNITED STATES, AT LEAST HOW MANY YEARS DOES A CHESS TOURNAMENT
HAVE TO HELD BEFORE IT IS CALLED A HERITAGE EVENT?
A: 15
B: 25
C: 40
D: 50
3. WHAT CHESS DEFENSE WAS NOT PLAYED IN A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
MATCH UNTIL 1958, WHEN BOTVINNIK PLAYED IT AGAINST SMYSLOV?
A: FRENCH
B: CARO-KANN
C: SCANDINAVIAN
D: SILICIAN
4. IN A 1964 ARTICLE FEATURED IN CHESSWORLD MAGAZINE, WHICH OF THE
FOLLOWING PLAYERS DID BOBBY FISCHER NOT NAME AS ONE OF THE TOP TEN
GREATEST MASTERS IN HISTORY?
A: MIKHAIL TCHIGORIN
B: ALEXANDER ALEKHINE
C: SAMUEL RESHEVSKY
D: EMANUEL LASKER
5. IN THE COURSE OF PLAYING ROMAN DZINDZICHASHVILI DURING THE 1989
U.S. CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP, HOW MANY DRAW OFFERS DID IGOR IVANOV
EXTEND IN THE SPACE OF 23 MOVES?
A: 3
B: 5
C: 7
D: 10
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 16
1. ATOMIC CHESS IS A VARIANT FORM OF CHESS THAT USES A BOARD CONSISTING
OF HOW MANY SQUARES?
A: 81
B: 100
C: 121
D: 144
2. DURING THE 1978 WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHP MATCH, WHAT FOOD DID
KORCHNOI CLAIM WAS GIVEN TO KARPOV DURING THE GAMES AS A CODE TO GIVE
ADVICE ON WHAT MOVE TO PLAY?
A: ICE CREAM
B: YOGHURT
C: CAKE
D: MELON
3. WHAT COUNTRY WAS THE FIRST TO ISSUE A STAMP THAT FEATURED A CHESS
THEME?
A: BULGARIA
B: GREECE
C: DENMARK
D: ICELAND
4. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING CHESS PLAYERS WAS NOT BORN IN THE 19TH CENTURY?
A: GYULA BREYER
B: MACHGIELIS EUWE
C: ERNST GRUNFELD
D: RUDOLF SPIELMANN
5. IN THE COURSE OF FINISHING THIRD IN THE 26TH USSR CHESS
CHAMPIONSHIP AT TBILISI IN 1959, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING PRIZES
DID RATMIR KHOLMOV NOT WIN?
A: MAKING A GM NORM
B: BEST RESULTS OVER LAST FIVE ROUNDS
C: MOST NUMBER OF WINS WITH WHITE
D: BEST RESULTS AGAINST TOP 6 FINISHERS IN TOURNAMENT
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 17
1. IN THE 1886 WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH, WILHELM STEINTIZ OBJECTED
TO WHAT COLOR SQUARES ON THE BOARD, CLAIMING HE WAS COLORBLIND TO THAT
COLOR?
A: BLUE
B: RED
C: YELLOW
D: GREEN
2. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WAS NOT ONE OF THE �LONDON RULES� PROPOSED BY
JOSE CAPABLANCA IN 1922, DICTATING THE CONDITIONS FOR FUTURE WORLD
CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES?
A: TIME LIMIT OF 40/150
B: CHAMPION DECIDES DATE OF MATCH
C: HIGHEST PURSE BID MUST BE ACCEPTED
D: FIRST PLAYER TO WIN 12 GAMES WINS MATCH
3. WHAT TEAM FINISHED LAST IN THE INAUGURAL NATIONAL CHESS LEAQUE MATCH?
A: MIAMI CAPABLANCAS
B: HOUSTON HELPMATES
C: CHICAGO PRAIRIE DOGS
D: LOS ANGELES STAUNTONS
4. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES DID NOT SPONSOR A PERSON TO REPRESENT
THE AUSTRALIA WOMEN�S TEAM AT THE 2004 CHESS OLYMPIAD?
A: PHILLIPINES
B: SWEDEN
C: NEW ZEALAND
D: BELARUS
5. SWISS PLAYER HANS FAHRNI WAS THE FIRST CHESS MASTER TO PLAY HOW MANY
OPPONENTS IN A SIMULTANEOUS EXHIBITION?
A: 50
B: 75
C: 100
D: 200
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 18
1. ON AN EMPTY CHESSBOARD, WHAT IS THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF MOVES REQUIRED
TO PLACE A KNIGHT ON A1 TO H8?
A: 5
B: 6
C: 7
D: 8
2. WHAT CITY HOSTED THE WORLD�S FIRST CHESS TOURNAMENT?
A: MADRID
B: ROME
C: PARIS
D: ST. PETERSBURG
3. WHERE DID BLIND MUSICIAN RAY CHARLES LEARN TO PLAY CHESS?
A: BAR
B: HOSPITAL
C: CHURCH
D: PRISON
4. IN WHAT YEAR DID THE CORRESPONDENCE CHESS LEAGUE OF AMERICA ADOPT
THE FIRST NUMERICAL CHESS RATING SYSTEM?
A: 1920
B: 1925
C: 1933
D: 1937
5. WHAT CHESS PLAYER GETS CREDIT FOR SAYING �A CHESS GAME IS DIVIDED INTO
THREE STAGES: THE FIRST, WHEN YOU HOPE TO HAVE THE ADVANTAGE,
THE SECOND, WHEN YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE ADVANTAGE, AND THE THIRD,
WHEN YOU KNOW YOU�RE GOING TO LOSE�?
A: SAVIELLY TARTAKOWER
B: MARK TAIMANOV
C: HOWARD STAUNTON
D: SULTAN KHAN
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 19
1. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IS NOT TRUE ABOUT FORMER U.S. CHESS
CHAMPION ARNOLD DENKER?
A: ONCE PLAYED 100 OPPONENTS IN 7.33 HOURS
B: INVITED BY U.S. GOVERNMENT TO HELP CRACK ENEMY CODES
C: BECAME SECOND PERSON PROCLAIMED DEAN OF AMERICAN CHESS
D: WAS ONETIME BOXER
2. WHAT CHESS PLAYER GAVE HIS FIRST AMERICAN SIMULTANEOUS EXHIBITION WITH
20 OFFICERS AND CADETS AT THE WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY?
A: LEV ALBURT
B: LARRY EVANS
C: WALTER BROWNE
D: SAMUEL RESHEVSKY
3. IN 1981, WHAT COUNTRY FORBAD CHESS AS IT ENCOURAGED GAMBLING?
A: IRAN
B: NORTH KOREA
C: MADAGASCAR
D: VENEZUELA
4. OF ALL THE GAMES PLAYED IN WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES BETWEEN
1886 AND 1990, WHAT WAS THE FOURTH MOST POPULAR FIRST MOVE FOR WHITE?
A: Nc3
B: c4
C: g3
D: Nf3
5. IN WHAT CENTURY WAS THE FIRST EUROPEAN CHESS BOOK, �JUEGOS AXEDREZ,
DADOS Y TABLAS� WRITTEN?
A: 9TH
B: 11TH
C: 13TH
D: 15TH
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 20
1. ACCORDING TO JOZEF HENRY BLACKBURNE�S THEORY, CONSUMING WHAT ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGE IMPROVED ONE�S CHESS BECAUSE IT CLEARED THE BRAIN?
A: VODKA
B: GIN
C: WHISKY
D: RUM
2. HOW MANY CHESS GAMES WERE PLAYED BETWEEN LABOURDONNAIS AND MCDONNELL
IN 1834, THE LARGEST NUMBER EVER PLAYED SUCCESSIVELY IN MATCH
CONDITIONS?
A: 62
B: 70
C: 85
D: 99
3. STANLEY EDGAR WAS THE PSUEDONYM OF WHAT U.S. CHESS PIONEER?
A: KENNETH HARKNESS
B: ED EDMONDSON
C: ARPAD ELO
D: HERMANN HELMS
4. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE WAS NOT PART OF A GROUP OF SEVEN GERMAN
CHESS PLAYERS KNOWN AS THE PLEIADES?
A: WILHELM HANSTEIN
B: CARL MAYET
C: BERNARD HORWITZ
D: HANS BERLINER
5. IN 1886, CHESS BECAME THE WHAT PLACE SPORT TO HOLD A WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP?
A: FIRST
B: SECOND
C: THIRD
D: FOURTH
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 21
1. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING MUSIC ARTISTS ATTENDED THE SAME HIGH SCHOOL
AS FORMER WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP BOBBY FISCHER?
A: DOLLY PARTON
B: BARRY MANILOW
C: NEIL DIAMOND
D: LINDA RONDSTADT
2. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES WAS NOT HELD
IN MOSCOW?
A: 1963, PETROSIAN VS. BOTVINNIK
B: 1896-97, LASKER VS. STEINITZ
C: 1981, KARPOV VS. KORCHNOI
D: 1961, TAL VS. BOTVINNIK
3. IN 1891, WHAT COUNTRY FORMED A CLUB OF LIVING CHESS WITH THE
PURPOSE OF GIVING LIVING CHESS DISPLAYS FOR SUITABLE CHARITIES?
A: IRELAND
B: AUSTRALIA
C: JAPAN
D: MEXICO
4. WHO IS THE ONLY PLAYER TO PLAY IN A WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
PRIOR TO WORLD WAR II TO NEVER HAVE AN ANTHOLOGY OF HIS BEST
GAMES PUBLISHED?
A: JOHANN ZUKERTORT
B: MIKHAIL TCHIGORIN
C: ISIDOR GUNSBERG
D: CARL SCHLECHTER
5. BECAUSE OF HIS TENDENCY TO SACRIFICE PIECES OR GIVE MATE ON THAT
SQUARE, FORMER CHESS GRANDMASTER ALEXANDER TOLUSH EARNED THE NAME OF
WHAT?
A: g7-specialist
B: b7-specialist
C: b2-specialist
D: g2-specialist
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 22
1. THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, THE OLDEST NEWSPAPER CHESS COLUMN STILL
IN EXISTENCE, FIRST APPEARED IN WHAT YEAR?
A: 1792
B: 1812
C: 1842
D: 1872
2. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT A VARIATION OF NIMZOVICH-LARSEN ATTACK
CHESS OPENING?
A: POLISH
B: ENGLISH
C: INDIAN
D: GERMAN
3. WHAT CHESS PLAYER OBTAINED THE LEVEL OF MASTER AT THE AGE OF 12 YEARS,
3 DAYS?
A: ILYA GUREVICH
B: STEWART RACHELS
C: HIKARU NAKAMURA
D: JOHN JARECKI
4. CHESS GRANDMASTER DAVID BRONSTEIN GETS CREDIT FOR SAYING �WHEN YOU
PLAY THE RUY LOPEZ, IT�S LIKE�� DOING WHAT?
A: HUNTING DEER
B: MILKING A COW
C: FLAYING FISH
D: SHEARING SHEEP
5. THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE WAY FOR A CHESS GAME TO END IN A STALEMATE TAKES
HOW MANY MOVES?
A: 10
B: 13
C: 17
D: 22
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 23
1. IN WHAT STATE WAS AMERICAN CHESS PLAYER PAUL MORPHY BORN?
A: NEW YORK
B: LOUISIANA
C: PENNSYLVANIA
D: NORTH CAROLINA
2. AFTER LOSING A GAME, WHAT CHESS PLAYER ONCE JUMPED UP ON THE TABLE AND
YELLED �WHY MUST I LOSE TO THIS IDIOT�?
A: DAVID JANOWSKI
B: CARLOS TORRE
C: HENRIQUE MECKING
D: ARON NIMZOVICH
3. IN WHAT YEAR DID THE WINNER OF THE FIRST WOMEN�S CHESS
CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT DIE?
A: 1939
B: 1941
C: 1944
D: 1947
4. UNDER THE CURRENT USCF RATING RULES, WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF
POINTS A PLAYER MAY GO UP OR DOWN IN A THREE YEAR PERIOD SOLELY AS A
RESULT OF MATCH PLAY?
A: 100
B: 150
C: 200
D: 250
5. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BOOKS DID CHESS HISTORIAN BILL WALL WRITE MOST
RECENTLY?
A: LARSEN�S OPENING
B: 500 ITALIAN MINIATURES
C: GROB�S ATTACK
D: 500 CARO-KANN MINIATURES
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 24
1. BENT LARSON PLAYED ON WHAT BOARD FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD TEAM
AGAINST THE USSR IN THE MATCH PLAYED AT BELGRADE IN 1970?
A: 1
B: 2
C: 3
D: 4
2. WHAT U.S. PRESIDENT WANTED TO BECOME A CHESS EXPERT AFTER LEAVING
THE WHITE HOUSE, BUT FINALLY GAVE UP SAYING �I FOUND THAT I DON�T HAVE
ANY PARTCULAR TALENT FOR CHESS. I HATE TO ADMIT IT, BUT THAT�S A FACT�?
A: BILL CLINTON
B: JIMMY CARTER
C: THEODORE ROOSEVELT
D: THOMAS JEFFERSON
3. IN ROUND NINE OF THE 25TH USSR CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP AT RIGA IN 1958, HOW
MUCH TIME DID DAVID BRONSTEIN TAKE BEFORE PLAYING 1�c5 IN RESPONSE TO
HIS OPPONENT�S MOVE?
A: 1 SECOND
B: 1 MINUTE
C: 4 MINUTES
D: 18 MINUTES
4. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES DID ERICH ELISKASES NOT REPRESENT
WHEN PLAYING IN THE CHESS OLYMPIADS?
A: AUSTRIA
B: ARGENTINA
C: GERMANY
D: CHILE
5. WHAT PLAYER WON THE TOURNAMENT IN HELD IN 2001 TO COMMERORATE THE
FIFTEETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE INTERNATIONAL
CORRESPONDENCE CHESS FEDERATION?
A: MIKHAIL UMANSKY
B: TONU OIM
C: GERT TIMMERMAN
D: HORST RITTNER
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 25
1. IN 1996, CHESS CLUBS WERE BANNED FROM SOME HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE
CAPITAL OF WHAT U.S. STATE?
A: HAWAII
B: MINNESOTA
C: UTAH
D: MISSISSIPPI
2. THE $100,000 FREDKIN AWARD WAS PRESENTED TO THE INVENTORS OF WHAT
CHESS COMPUTER?
A: DEEP JUNIOR
B: DEEP BLUE
C: DEEP FRITZ
D: DEEP THOUGHT
3. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING PLAYERS WAS NOT NOMINATED BY THE FIDE IN 1950
AS ONE OF THE FIRST TWENTY-SEVEN GRANDMASTERS?
A: LASZLO SZABO
B: MILAN VIDMAR
C: AKIBA RUBINSTEIN
D: OLDRICH DURAS
4. IN WHAT YEAR DID THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASS HOUSE
RESOLUTION BILL 545 RECOGNIZING BOBBY FISCHER AS THE WORLD CHESS
CHAMPION?
A: 1984
B: 1987
C: 1990
D: 1992
5. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING EVENTS IN CHESS HISTORY DID NOT OCCUR IN THE
19TH CENTURY?
A: FIRST AMERICAN WOMEN�S CHESS CONGRESS BEGINS
B: CHIGORIN WINS FIRST ALL-RUSSIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
C: FIRST U.S.-U.K. CABLE MATCH BEGINS
D: U.S. CHESS ASSOCIATION FORMS
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 26
1. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING PLAYERS DID NOT LEARN HOW TO PLAY CHESS UNTIL
AGE 21?
A: HOWARD STAUNTON
B: WALTER BROWNE
C: JOSEPH BLACKBURNE
D: SULTAN KHAN
2. WHO WAS THE EIGHTH WORLD CHESS CHAMPION?
A: MIKHAIL TAL
B: VASILY SMYSLOV
C: BORIS SPASSKY
D: MIKHAIL BOTVINNIK
3. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IS NOT TRUE ABOUT AMERICAN CHESS
PLAYER ARTHUR BISQUIER?
A: WON U.S. JUNIOR OPEN IN 1949
B: REPRESENTED U.S. IN FIVE OLYMPIADS
C: WINNER OF FOUR U.S. SENIOR OPENS
D: NAMED DEAN OF AMERICAN CHESS
4. HOW MANY PLAYERS ATTENDED THE FIRST MEETING OF THE MANHATTAN CHESS
CLUB?
A: 9
B: 20
C: 37
D: 55
5. THE CHESS GAME PLAYED IN THE MOVIE "2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY" BETWEEN AN
ASTRONAUT AND THE HAL 9000 COMPUTER WAS AN ACTUAL GAME FROM WHAT
TOURNAMENT?
A: VIENNA 1898
B: HAMBURG 1910
C: BAD KISSINGEN 1928
D: NOTTINGHAM 1936
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 27
1. IN WHAT YEAR WAS THE INTERNET CHESS CLUB, ONE OF FIRST PREMIUM GAMING
SITES ON THE INTERNET, FOUNDED?
A: 1994
B: 1995
C: 1997
D: 1998
2. ACCORDING TO THE CURRENT USCF OFFICIAL RULES OF CHESS, WHAT WOULD BE A
PLAYERS RATING FLOOR IF THE HIGHEST ESTABLISHED RATING HE OR
SHE ACHIEVED WAS 1799?
A: 1300
B: 1400
C: 1500
D: 1600
3. WHERE WAS FORMER USCF PRESIDENT ED EDMUNDSON PLAYING CHESS WHEN HE HAD
A HEART ATTACK ULTIMATELY CAUSING HIS DEATH AT THE AGE OF 62?
A: LOG CABIN
B: HOTEL LOUNGE
C: BEACH
D: CRUISE SHIP
4. IN 1947, MIGUEL NAJDORF BROKE THE WORLD RECORD FOR BLINDFOLD CHESS BY
TAKING ON 45 OPPONENTS SIMULTANEOUSLY IN WHAT SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY?
A: PERU
B: ECUADOR
C: COLUMBIA
D: BRAZIL
5. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING PERSONS SERVED THE SHORTEST DURATION AS FIDE
PRESIDENT?
A: FOLKE ROGARD
B: MACHGIELIS EUWE
C: FLORENCIO CAMPOMANES
D: FRIDRIK OLAFSSON
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 28
1. IN WHAT YEAR WAS THE STAUNTON CHESS SET DESIGN, CREATED BY NATHANIEL
COOK, ENDORSED BY HOWARD STAUNTON?
A: 1839
B: 1849
C: 1859
D: 1869
2. WHO WAS THE ONLY PLAYER TO VISIT MIKHAIL TAL IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER HE
FELL ILL IN THE 1962 CURACAO CANDIDATES CHESS TOURNAMENT?
A: PAL BENKO
B: BOBBY FISCHER
C: TIGRAN PETROSIAN
D: EFIM GELLER
3. OF THE 120 GAMES PLAYED IN THE 45TH USSR CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP AT
LENINGRAD IN 1977, WHAT PERCENTAGE WERE DRAWN?
A: 1/4
B: 1/2
C: 2/3
D: 7/8
4. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING QUOTES DOES CHESS PLAYER SIEBERT TARRASH NOT
GET CREDIT FOR SAYING?
A: �CHESS, LIKE LOVE, LIKE MUSIC, HAS THE POWERS TO MAKE MEN HAPPY�
B: �CHESS WILL ALWAYS BE THE MASTER OF US ALL�
C: �ALL CHESSPLAYERS SHOULD HAVE A HOBBY�
D: �WHEN YOU DON�T KNOW WHAT TO DO, WAIT FOR YOUR OPPONENT TO
GET AN IDEA; IT IS SURE TO BE BAD�
5. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SWEDISH PLAYERS DOES NOT HAVE ROOM IN THE
STOCKHOLM CHESS CLUB NAMED AFTER HIM?
A: GIDEON STAHLBERG
B: GEZA STOLTZ
C: ERIK LUNDIN
D: ULF ANDERSSON
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 29
1. IN WHAT YEAR WAS THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY CHESS CLUB FOUNDED?
A: 1851
B: 1869
C: 1885
D: 1893
2. WHAT WAS THE OCCUPATION OF NINETEENTH CENTURY CHESS PLAYER WILLIAM
EVANS?
A: FORESTER
B: CONCERT PIANIST
C: SEA CAPTAIN
D: CHEF
3. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WAS NOT ONE OF THE FEDERATIONS THAT
MERGED TO FORM THE U.S. CHESS FEDERATION IN 1939?
A: EASTERN CHESS FEDERATION
B: NATIONAL CHESS FEDERATION
C: AMERICAN CHES FEDERATION
D: WESTERN CHESS FEDERATION
4. WHO WAS THE FIRST PLAYER TO BECOME A GRANDMASTER WITHOUT FIRST
BECOMING AN INTERNATIONAL MASTER?
A: YASSER SEIRAWAN
B: LARRY CHRISTIANSEN
C: NICK DEFIRMIAN
D: ALEXANDER IVANOV
5. HOW MANY YEARS PASSED BETWEEN SAMUEL RESHEVSKY�S FIRST AND LAST TIME
WINNING THE U.S. CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP?
A: 30
B: 33
C: 35
D: 37
CHESS TRIVIA CHALLENGE # 30
1. WHAT WAS FORMER WORLD CHESS CHAMPION GARRY KASPAROV�S LAST NAME GIVEN
AT BIRTH?
A: WEINSTEIN
B: GOLDBERG
C: IVANOV
D: TRIVIANOV
2. IN WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING CITIES DID THE 1894 WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
MATCH NOT TAKE PLACE?
A: NEW YORK
B: PHILADEPHIA
C: MONTREAL
D: NEW ORLEANS
3. AT THE 2001 FIDE WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP KNOCKOUT TOURNAMENT IN
MOSCOW, HOW MANY PLAYERS HAD TO UNDERGO DRUG TESTING?
A: 5
B: 10
C: 15
D: 20
4. WHO IS THE ONLY PLAYER TO LOSE FIVE GAMES IN A USSR CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
TOURNAMENT AND STILL WIN THE TITLE?
A: VASSILY SMYSLOV
B: YEFIM GELLER
C: LEV POLUGAEVSKY
D: MARC TAIMONOV
5. ACCORDING TO THE CURRENT OFFICIAL USCF RULES OF CHESS, A RATED SWISS
SYSTEM TOURNAMENT OR SECTION OF A TOURNAMENT, EXCEPT CATEGORY I OR
N, DRAWING BETWEEN 50 AND 99 PLAYERS, IS CALLED A CATEGORY WHAT EVENT?
A: A
B: B
C: C
D: D
