MATH 177 CHESS SAMPLE EXAM
You may use a chess set to aid your thoughts
WARNING: Your actual exam will contain more and different questions,
but the test style/form will be the same as this Sample Exam.
Answers to SAMPLE TEST questions below are in RED.
  __________________
  PRINT name above

For [1] through [6] match each opening with its name by writing a letter in each blank to the left of the problem number. Algebraic notation (without brackets) and descriptive notation (with brackets [ ] ) are both given; if there seems to be a conflict or inconsistency, ask professor immediately.

Dave Gomboc at the University of Alberta suggests an alternative notation in [1] - [6] below.

   C   [1]
e4
pxp
d4
Nf 3
[p-K4]
[pxp]
[p-Q4]
[N-KB3]
    d5
Nf 6
Nxp
pg6
[p-Q4]
[N-KB3]
[Nxp]
[p-KN3]
 
These
would have
been fun
A = Queen's Gambit Accepted
B = Bimbo's Opening
C = Center Counter Defense
D = Dutch Defense
E = English Opening
F = French Defense
G = Gruenfeld Defense
H = King's Knight Opening
J = Fianchetto's Opening
K = Kolibri Opening
L = Pirc-Robatsch Defense
M = McFarland's opening
N = Three Knight's Game
P = Petroff's Defense
Q = Caro-Kann Defense
R = Reti's Opening
S = Sicilian Defense
   K   [2]
g4
g2
c4
[p-KN4]
[B-N2]
[p-QB4]
    d5
e5
c6
[p-Q4]
[p-K4]
[p-QB3]
   N   [3]
e4
Nf3
Nc3
[p-K4]
[N-KB3]
[N-B3]
    e5
Nc6
Bc5
[p-K4]
[N-QB3]
[B-B4]
   Q   [4]
e4
d4
Nc3
[p-K4]
[p-Q4]
[N-QB3]
    c6
d5
pxp
[p-QB3]
[p-Q4]
[pxp]
   L   [5]
e4
d4
c3
pf4
[p-K4]
[p-Q4]
[N-QB3]
[p-B4]
    d6
Nf 6
g6
Bg7
[p-Q3]
[N-KB3]
[p-KN3]
[B-N2]
   G   [6]
d4
c4
Nc3
pxp
[p-Q4]
[p-QB4]
[N-QB3]
[pxp]
    Nf 6
g6
pd5
Nxp
[N-KB3]
[p-KN3]
[p-Q4]
[Nxp]
[7] A game position in which neither King is in check but yet neither player has a legal move, is called
 
a    Stalemate   .
[8] The only move in Chess in which the King moves more than one square, is called
   Castling   .
[9] The move in which a pawn is transformed into a queen after travelling to the opposite side of the board
 
is called    promotion   .

Complete the following table; ½ point for each box correctly filled in:
problem number piece maximum freedom number on an otherwise empty board describe below the set of all locations on an otherwise empty board where freedom number is greatest
[10]
 
king 8 Anywhere in the center 36 squares
[11] The first chess player whose games were written down and saved to this day was    Ruy Lopez   .
 
[12] A nearly complete set of Icelandic chess pieces made of walrus ivory and dated from about 1200 A.D. was probably stolen and found stashed on what island north of Scotland?    Isle of Lewis   

In questions [13], [14], [15], [16], and [17], you are shown a chess position in which the white player sits at the bottom of the board, with piece symbols written upright; black sits at the top of each board, with piece symbols written upside down.

In problems [13 and [14] you are shown endgame positions in which white moves first, and both players make their best possible moves. Write "WIN" or "DRAW" in the blank after each problem number, depending upon which outcome you think would result.

[13]   WIN   
                   
                 
               
                
               
                
                
               
 
[14]   DRAW   
                  
                 
               
                
               
                
                 
               

In each of the diagrams below, choose an answer from among the letters A, B, C, and D. The correct letter must describe ALL pawns in its diagram. Write the LETTER of your answer in the blank after each number. A = passed pawn
B = isolated pawn
C = connected pawns
D = doubled pawns

[15]   D   
               
                 
                 
                
                 
                
                
                
 
[16]   C   
                  
                
                
                  
               
                
               
               
[17] For the chess position at the right,
state the SPACE of white's position.
   13   
                    
                   
               
               
               
               
               
               
All pieces in the top 4
ranks (rows) are black
All pieces in the bottom 4
ranks (rows) are white

[18] Name the religion which forbade carving chess pieces to resemble animal figures
 
   ISLAM   .