Chess Basics: Pieces, Moves & Checkmate

SheelonPuzzles & Brain TeasersTrivia & FunEnglishGrades 6-8Published Aug 5, 2026

How does the knight jump? What is castling? Learn the pieces, their moves, and the road to checkmate in the world's most famous strategy game.

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Questions in this quiz

All 12 shown. Answers not revealed.

How many squares are on a chessboard?
Multiple Choice · 20s
A32
B48
C64
D100
Which piece moves only diagonally?
Multiple Choice · 20s
AThe rook
BThe bishop
CThe knight
DThe king
Which piece moves in an L-shape and can jump over other pieces?
Multiple Choice · 20s
AThe queen
BThe bishop
CThe knight
DThe pawn
The queen is the most powerful piece on the board.True / False · 20s
How many pawns does each player start with?Multiple Choice · 20s
What do we call the winning move that traps the king with no escape? (one word)Type Answer · 30s
Which piece moves only in straight lines, along rows and columns?Multiple Choice · 20s
A pawn that reaches the far end of the board can be promoted to a queen.True / False · 20s
How many pieces in total (including pawns) does each player start with?Multiple Choice · 20s
What special move lets the king and a rook move together in one turn?Multiple Choice · 20s
How many squares can the king move in a normal turn? (write the number)Type Answer · 30s
In which country did the earliest known ancestor of chess appear?Multiple Choice · 20s

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