Texas Tech University

UIL Chess Puzzle

The Texas Tech University Chess Program prepares the chess-puzzle tests used in University Interscholastic League competition and provides resources to help students and coaches prepare for the UIL Chess Puzzle contest.

UIL Chess Puzzle tests knowledge of chess rules, notation, tactics and position evaluation. Students can use this page to review key concepts and practice applying them before competition.

Texas Tech UIL Chess Puzzle

What to Study

Students should be comfortable with the following concepts before competing in UIL Chess Puzzle.

1. Read Chess Moves

Chess uses algebraic notation to describe moves. Each square has an address made from a letter and number. Students should be able to identify squares quickly and understand the moves shown in answer choices.

2. Know How the Pieces Move

Know how the king, queen, rook, bishop, knight and pawn move, including the special rules that can affect whether a move is legal.

  • Castling: Know when kingside and queenside castling are permitted.
  • Promotion: Know what happens when a pawn reaches the opposite end of the board.
  • En passant: Know when this special pawn capture is legal.

3. Understand Check, Checkmate & Stalemate

Check means the king is under attack but can still escape. Checkmate means the king is attacked and has no legal escape. Stalemate occurs when a player has no legal move but the king is not in check.

4. Know the Value of the Pieces

Approximate piece values can help students evaluate captures and exchanges.

Piece Approximate Value
Queen 9
Rook 5
Bishop 3
Knight 3
Pawn 1

5. Know the Rule of the Square

The rule of the square is a quick way to determine whether a king can catch an opposing pawn before the pawn reaches the promotion square. Students should practice recognizing this in basic king-and-pawn endings.

6. Recognize Basic Chess Tactics

  • Fork: One piece attacks two or more targets.
  • Pin: Moving a piece would expose a more important piece behind it.
  • Skewer: A valuable piece is attacked and moves, exposing another target.
  • En prise: A piece is undefended and can be captured.

7. Understand Best Play

When a puzzle says both sides use best play, assume each player will make the strongest available move. A combination must work even against the opponent's best defense.

Practice Questions

Use these questions to review the concepts above. Select your answer before opening the solution.

1. Which square is identified by the notation e4?

  1. The fourth rank and fifth file
  2. The e-file and fourth rank
  3. The fourth file and e-rank
  4. The e-file and fifth rank
Show Answer

Answer: 2. The letter identifies the file and the number identifies the rank.

2. Which piece can jump over other pieces?

  1. Bishop
  2. Rook
  3. Knight
  4. Queen
Show Answer

Answer: 3. The knight is the only standard chess piece that can jump over other pieces.

3. What is checkmate?

  1. The king is attacked but can move to safety.
  2. The king is not attacked but the player has no legal move.
  3. The king is attacked and there is no legal way to escape.
  4. A player loses the queen.
Show Answer

Answer: 3. Checkmate occurs when the king is in check and no legal move can remove the threat.

4. Which piece normally has the greatest material value?

  1. Queen
  2. Rook
  3. Bishop
  4. Knight
Show Answer

Answer: 1. A queen is generally valued at approximately nine points.

5. White can capture either a rook or a pawn without losing the capturing piece. Which capture normally wins more material?

  1. The pawn
  2. The rook
  3. They have equal value.
  4. Material value cannot be compared.
Show Answer

Answer: 2. A rook is normally worth about five points while a pawn is worth one.

6. A knight attacks the opposing king and queen at the same time. What tactical pattern is this?

  1. Pin
  2. Skewer
  3. Fork
  4. Stalemate
Show Answer

Answer: 3. A fork occurs when one piece attacks two or more targets at the same time.

7. A bishop cannot move because doing so would expose its king to attack. The bishop is:

  1. Forked
  2. Pinned
  3. Promoted
  4. Stalemated
Show Answer

Answer: 2. The bishop is pinned because moving it would expose the king.

8. What does "best play" mean in a chess puzzle?

  1. The opponent is expected to make a mistake.
  2. Only the first player's move matters.
  3. Both players are assumed to choose their strongest available moves.
  4. The player with more pieces automatically wins.
Show Answer

Answer: 3. Best play assumes both sides choose the strongest available continuation.

Official UIL Chess Puzzle Information

Training for Schools

The Texas Tech Chess Program can provide training sessions or workshops for schools preparing for UIL Chess Puzzle competition. Coaches and school representatives can contact TTU Chess for current availability.

Texas Tech Chess Program

Drane Hall, Room 315
Box 45080
Lubbock, TX 79409-5080

Phone: 1 (806) 742-7742
Email: texastechchess@ttu.edu

TTU Chess

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