1. November 2012

2. UIL Chess Puzzle Practice Material This years UIL Chess Puzzle Test includes solve the matepositions similar to last years, but it also tests other kinds ofchess knowledgeknowledge that relates directly to otherschool skills. These skills include basic geometrical reasoning,computation, and problem solving . Developing critical andcreative thinking. Each test will still be 20 questions, and one point will be givenfor each correct answer. No deductions will be made forincorrect answers. Students will be given 30 minutes tocomplete the test. Finishing early is not rewarded. 3. Tie-breaking procedures have been changed. Tie breaks willnow be decided by a more difficult text of 20 questions forwhich students have only 10 minutes. Incorrect answers arepenalized by subtracting 1.25 from the final score. So, on thetie-break test, its smart to be sure of an answer instead ofracing to circle answers to all the questions. Below are some study guides and sample questions thatreflect the general approach of this years UIL Chess PuzzleTest (not the tie-breaking test, which will have a higherdegree of difficulty)> 4. How to answer questions on the test. In order to answer most of the 20 questions on this test, youllneed to know how to read and write chess. The system iscalled algebraic notation, or AN for short. Its simple anddepends on two easy systems, one for the board and one forthe pieces. Every square on the board has an address made up of aletter and a number. 5. Every pieces is indicated by alogical abbreviation:King KQueenQRook RBishop BKnightN(because K is already taken by the King!)Pawn (the file its on)(a-h) 6. The United States Chess Federation offers a concise andcomplete explanation here:http://archive.uschess.org/beginners/readOf course, you will also need to know how the pieces move. Fora short but comprehensive course in moving the chess pieces, goto the U.S. Chess Federation site:http://archive.uschess.org/beginners/letsplay.pdfNow answer each of the questions below. Be sure to read thequestion carefully and then choose the letter of the single, bestanswer from the choices below each question. 7. UIL Chess Puzzles1- What squares can the White pawn in the diagram move to? 8a) e3, e4 and exd3 7b) Only e4 6c) d3 and f3 5d) e1 and d4 4 3 2 1 A B C D E F G H 8. UIL Chess Puzzles2- The chessboard has how many squares?a) 32b) 64c) 72d) None of the above 9. UIL Chess Puzzles3- Chess Players have names for three kinds of Streets on achessboard made by connecting squares. Which kind of streetsdo Bishops travel on?a) Ranksb) Filesc) Rowsd) Diagonals 10. UIL Chess Puzzles4- White just played e2-e4, is it possible for Black to capture theWhite pawn next?a) Yesb) No 11. 5- White to move and wina)xe7b) e1c) a1d) d8 12. UIL Chess Puzzles6- Which side has the greater value of material left on theboard?a) Whiteb) Blackc) Equal materiald) Unclear 13. 7- White to move and wina) e7b) xd3c) h6d)xd8 14. UIL Chess Puzzles8- What move checkmates Black immediately?a) d7b) c8c) c1d) c3 15. UIL Chess Puzzles9- The Bishop is a very strong piece. In open games, the Bishop ispowerful do to its long-scope mobility. In the next diagram, findthe Bishop move to stop three pawns from queening.a) a4b) c6c) d7d) e8 16. 10- White to move and wina) g2b)g1c) xg7d) b1