Free UIL Chess Puzzle practice test
Sixteen questions in the real format, with the answer and the reason for every one.
Sixteen questions in the same format as the grades 2–3 test: multiple choice, 30 minutes, one point each, no penalty for a wrong answer. The correct answer and the reason are shown under each puzzle, so this page works as a study sheet as well as a test.
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The questions
What term best describes this situation?
- a) Black is in checkmate.
- b) Black is in check. ← correct
- c) Black is in stalemate.
- d) None of the above.
The Black king on g1 is attacked, but Black can still escape (move the king, block, or capture the attacker). Attacked but escapable = check.
What term best describes this situation?
- a) Black is in check.
- b) Black is in stalemate.
- c) Black is in checkmate.
- d) None of the above. ← correct
The Black king on g6 is not attacked, and Black has legal moves. So it is not check, checkmate, or stalemate.
Which side has material advantage?
- a) White
- b) Black ← correct
- c) It's even.
- d) It's not possible to tell without knowing who is to move.
Count points (Queen 9, Rook 5, Bishop 3, Knight 3, Pawn 1). White has only the King = 0. Black has 1 Bishop (1×3), 1 Knight (1×3), 5 Pawns (5×1) = 11. Black is ahead by 11. Who moves next never changes a material count.
What is White's best move?
- a) cxb8=B
- b) cxb8=N
- c) cxb8=R
- d) cxb8=Q ← correct
cxb8=Q wins the Black Knight (3 points) for free. Before every move, ask: what can I take, and is it safe?
Black just played e7 to e5. Which pawn can be captured?
- a) Black's b-pawn
- b) Black's h-pawn
- c) Black's e-pawn ← correct
- d) White can't capture a pawn.
En passant! Black's e-pawn just jumped two squares from e7 to e5 and landed right beside White's d-pawn. On this move only, White may capture it as if it had moved just one square: dxe6. No other black pawn is diagonally in front of a white pawn.
What is White's best move?
- a) ♖d5
- b) ♖d6
- c) ♖a4 ← correct
- d) ♖b4
♖a4 is checkmate. The Black king on a6 is attacked, every escape square is covered, and the check can't be blocked or the checking piece captured. Always look for a mate-in-one first.
What is White's best move?
- a) ♕h6
- b) ♕h2 ← correct
- c) ♕d4
- d) ♕g3
♕h2 is checkmate. The Black king on h4 is attacked, every escape square is covered, and the check can't be blocked or the checking piece captured. Always look for a mate-in-one first.
What piece should White capture?
- a) Black's Bishop
- b) Black's Rook
- c) Black's Knight ← correct
- d) Black's Queen
Take the Knight with dxe7. It is the capture that gains the most once you account for what Black can take back. The biggest piece is not always the best target if it is defended.
How many moves does Black need to checkmate White?
- a) 1 move
- b) 2 moves ← correct
- c) 3 moves
- d) Impossible to tell
Black has a forced mate in 2. Start with ♕d1; whatever White does, mate follows within 2 moves total. Nothing faster exists, so the answer is 2.
What is Black's best move?
- a) ♖h1 ← correct
- b) ♖h3
- c) ♖f5
- d) ♖h7
♖h1 is checkmate. The White king on a1 is attacked, every escape square is covered, and the check can't be blocked or the checking piece captured. Always look for a mate-in-one first.
If White can checkmate Black in two moves, what is the first move?
- a) ♔e4
- b) ♔e5
- c) ♔c6 ← correct
- d) ♔d6
♔c6 is the only first move that forces checkmate next move no matter how Black replies. For example, after ♘h7, ♕b7 is mate. A forcing first move (usually a check) that leaves the king only bad choices is the pattern.
Which move below is possible for White?
- a) Short Castle (O-O) ← correct
- b) Long Castle (O-O-O)
- c) Take Black's Bishop
- d) Take Black's Pawn
Short castling is legal: the squares between King and Rook are empty, the King is not in check, and it does not cross or land on an attacked square. O-O-O is illegal because a piece is standing between the King and that Rook; the King would pass through or land on an attacked square. Neither listed capture is possible: no White piece can reach those Black pieces this move.
What is Black's best move?
- a) ♘f6
- b) ♘g3
- c) ♘f2
- d) ♘d6 ← correct
♘d6 is a FORK: the Knight attacks the White Rook and King at the same time. White can only save one, so Black wins material next move. Look for one move that attacks two things.
To which piece should White promote the pawn?
- a) Queen ← correct
- b) Rook
- c) Knight
- d) Bishop
Promote to a Queen. It is the strongest piece, and here it does not stalemate Black, so there is no reason to take less.
With the best moves, what is the outcome of the game?
- a) White wins.
- b) Black wins. ← correct
- c) Draw.
- d) It is not possible to tell.
Black's pawn on d3 cannot be stopped (Rule of the Square: the defending king is outside the pawn's square, or the attacking king escorts it), so it promotes to a Queen and Black wins.
What term best describes this situation?
- a) Black is in checkmate.
- b) Black is in stalemate.
- c) Black is in check.
- d) None of the above. ← correct
The Black king on h3 is not attacked, and Black has legal moves. So it is not check, checkmate, or stalemate.
Common questions
Where can I find free UIL Chess Puzzle practice tests?
This page is a free 16-question practice test with answers and explanations. The practice app also generates unlimited fresh tests in the real format with a printable answer sheet and key.
How long is the UIL Chess Puzzle test?
Thirty minutes for the main test — 16 questions for grades 2-3, 20 for grades 4-8.
Practice this for free
Work through it with instant feedback, then take a timed mock meet in the real 30-minute format.
Open the practice app