Chess history, players, and famous games.
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
In the Ruy Lopez chess opening, what does Black seek with the Marshall Attack?
Black's central d5 thrust sacrifices a pawn to open lines and launch a kingside attack, making the line a famous gambit.
In the Sicilian Dragon, which piece does Black fianchetto to g7?
Dragon setups put Black's king bishop on g7, where the fianchettoed piece controls the long a1–h8 diagonal.
In chess, which move defines the Sicilian Defense after White opens 1.e4?
Black's ...c5 move attacks d4 from the flank, creating an asymmetrical fight instead of mirroring White with ...e5.
Magnus Carlsen's simultaneous world-title trio included classical, rapid, and which format?
Carlsen's three crowns span chess's main time controls, from long classical games through rapid to lightning-fast blitz.
Garry Kasparov won his first world chess title by defeating which rival?
Karpov held the title when Kasparov won, and their matches became one of chess's defining rivalries.
En passant can be made by which chess piece?
Only a pawn can capture en passant, taking diagonally while removing a pawn from a neighboring square.
Who became world chess champion after Bobby Fischer refused to defend his title?
Fischer's refusal let FIDE declare Karpov champion by default, without a title match.
Which rival did Bobby Fischer defeat to win the 1972 world chess title?
The Reykjavík match ended decades of Soviet world-title dominance and turned Fischer into a global icon.
After white castles kingside, where does the white king stand?
White's king moves from e1 to g1 while the rook moves from h1 to f1; queenside castling puts the king on c1.
Which Sicilian variation is known for Black's 5...a6?
The Najdorf Variation's 5...a6 move controls b5 and prepares flexible development for Black.