Chess and Strategy Games Trivia Questions and Answers

Chess Trivia

1. Who is known as the “Father of Modern Chess”?
   Answer: Wilhelm Steinitz

2. What is the name of the opening that begins with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5?
   Answer: Ruy-Lopez

3. Which piece can only move diagonally on the chessboard?
   Answer: Bishop

4. What is the name of the opening move 1.e4 c5?
   Answer: Sicilian Defense

5. How many squares are on a chessboard?
   Answer: 64 squares

6. Who was the first official World Chess Champion?
   Answer: Wilhelm Steinitz

7. Which piece is considered the most powerful on the chessboard?
   Answer: Queen

8. In which country was chess believed to have originated?
   Answer: India

9. What is the term for a situation where the King is in check and cannot escape?
   Answer: Checkmate

10. What does “en passant” refer to in chess?
    Answer: A special pawn capture

11. What is the term for moving the King two squares toward a rook and then placing the rook on the other side of the King?
    Answer: Castling

12. Who is the youngest person to become a World Chess Champion?
    Answer: Garry Kasparov

13. What is the name of the chess opening that starts with 1.d4 d5 2.c4?
    Answer: Queen’s Gambit

14. Which piece starts on d1 for White?
    Answer: Queen

15. How many pawns does each player start with in a game of chess?
    Answer: 8 pawns

16. Which piece moves in an “L” shape?
    Answer: Knight

17. What do we call a game that ends without a winner?
    Answer: Draw

18. Who was the first woman to earn the title of Grandmaster?
    Answer: Nona Gaprindashvili

19. What is the name of the chess variant played on a 9x9 board?
    Answer: Shogi (Japanese Chess)

20. Who is the current World Chess Champion (as of 2023)?
    Answer: Ding Liren

21. What is a “blitz” game?
    Answer: A fast-paced game where each player has a short time limit, usually 5 minutes.

22. What is the notation for a king-side castle?
    Answer: O-O

23. What is the term for a forced move that weakens a player’s position?
    Answer: Zugzwang

24. What do we call the control of the center squares of the chessboard?
    Answer: Centralization

25. Which chess piece was known as “ferz” in early versions of the game?
    Answer: Queen

26. What is the term for promoting a pawn to any piece other than a queen?
    Answer: Underpromotion

27. What is the term for a strategy where a player sacrifices material for positional advantage?
    Answer: Gambit

28. Who was the first American World Chess Champion?
    Answer: Bobby Fischer

29. What is the term for a position where neither player can force a win?
    Answer: Stalemate

30. What is the longest possible chess game in terms of moves?
    Answer: 5,949 moves

31. What is the term for a position in which both players agree to a draw?
    Answer: Draw by agreement

32. Who wrote the famous chess book “My 60 Memorable Games”?
    Answer: Bobby Fischer

33. What is the name of the opening that begins with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6?
    Answer: Philidor Defense

34. What is a “fianchetto”?
    Answer: The development of a bishop to the long diagonal by moving the pawn in front of it.

35. Who was the first non-European to become World Chess Champion?
    Answer: Viswanathan Anand

36. What is the term for a move that threatens the opponent’s King?
    Answer: Check

37. What do we call a situation where a pawn reaches the eighth rank?
    Answer: Promotion

38. Who defeated Garry Kasparov in the 2000 World Chess Championship?
    Answer: Vladimir Kramnik

39. What is the name of the opening move 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6?
    Answer: King’s Indian Defense

40. What is the shortest possible checkmate in chess called?
    Answer: Fool’s Mate

41. What is the name of the tournament that determines the challenger for the World Chess Championship?
    Answer: Candidates Tournament

42. What is the term for a game where each player has an hour to complete all their moves?
    Answer: Classical game

43. Who was the first computer to defeat a reigning World Chess Champion in a match?
    Answer: Deep Blue

44. What is the name of the chess opening that starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4?
    Answer: Scotch Game

45. What is the term for a pawn that has no opposing pawns blocking its advance?
    Answer: Passed pawn

46. Who won the 1972 World Chess Championship?
    Answer: Bobby Fischer

47. What is the name of the opening move 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4?
    Answer: Italian Game

48. What do we call a game played between two players without a board, relying on memory and verbal communication?
    Answer: Blindfold chess

49. What is the term for a draw where neither player has enough material to checkmate?
    Answer: Insufficient material

50. What is the name of the famous chess tournament held in the Netherlands every year?
    Answer: Tata Steel Chess Tournament

51. Who was the first World Chess Champion from the Soviet Union?
    Answer: Mikhail Botvinnik

52. What is the name of the opening move 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6?
    Answer: Morphy Defense (a variation of the Ruy Lopez)

53. What do we call a player who forfeits their game because of running out of time?
    Answer: Flagged

54. What is the term for a move that attacks two pieces at the same time?
    Answer: Fork

55. Who was the first person to defeat Garry Kasparov in a World Chess Championship match?
    Answer: Vladimir Kramnik

56. What is the name of the opening move 1.e4 e5 2.f4?
    Answer: King’s Gambit

57. What do we call the act of moving the same piece multiple times in the opening?
    Answer: Wasting time

58. What is the term for the strategy of attacking your opponent’s king while ensuring your own king’s safety?
    Answer: King safety

59. What is the term for a draw where the same position is repeated three times?
    Answer: Threefold repetition

60. What do we call the opening that starts with 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6?
    Answer: Queen’s Gambit Declined

61. Who was the first female player to compete in a men’s World Chess Championship?
    Answer: Judit Polgar

62. What is the name of the move where a pawn advances two squares forward from its starting position?
    Answer: Pawn’s double move

63. What is the term for a pawn structure where two pawns are on the same file?
    Answer: Doubled pawns

64. Who was the World Chess Champion during World War II?
    Answer: Alexander Alekhine

65. What is the name of the chess opening that starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d3?
    Answer: King’s Indian Attack

66. What do we call a draw where one side lacks sufficient material to checkmate?
    Answer: Draw by insufficient material

67. What is the term for a strategy where a player builds up a strong pawn structure in the center?
    Answer: Centralization

68. Who was the first chess player to achieve a rating over 2800?
    Answer: Garry Kasparov

69. What is the term for a pawn that is isolated from other pawns?
    Answer: Isolated pawn

70. Who was the first player to defeat Magnus Carlsen in a World Chess Championship match?
    Answer: Ian Nepomniachtchi

71. What is the name of the opening move 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6?
    Answer: Berlin Defense

72. What is the term for an attack that sacrifices material for a quick and decisive strike?
    Answer: Sacrifice

73. Who was the World Chess Champion before Bobby Fischer?
    Answer: Boris Spassky

74. What is the name of the opening that begins with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4?
    Answer: Scotch Game

75. What is the term for a pawn that can no longer move forward due to an enemy pawn directly in front of it?
    Answer: Blocked pawn

76. Who was the first player to win the World Chess Championship three times?
    Answer: Emanuel Lasker

77. What is the name of the chess opening that starts with 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6?
    Answer: Slav Defense

78. What do we call a game that ends with one player unable to make any legal moves but not in check?
    Answer: Stalemate

79. Who was the first player to be awarded the title of International Grandmaster?
    Answer: Alexander Alekhine

80. What is the name of the opening that starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6?
    Answer: Philidor Defense

81. What is the term for a situation where the king is not in check but any move would result in a check?
    Answer: Zugzwang

82. Who was the first player to beat a reigning World Champion in a World Chess Championship match?
    Answer: Wilhelm Steinitz

83. What is the name of the chess opening that starts with 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6?
    Answer: Queen’s Gambit Declined

84. What is the term for a strategy that involves controlling the open files with rooks?
    Answer: Open file strategy

85. Who was the first American to become a World Chess Champion?
    Answer: Bobby Fischer

86. What is the name of the chess opening that starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3?
    Answer: Three Knights Game

87. What is the term for a pawn structure where two pawns are placed side by side?
    Answer: Pawn duo

88. Who was the youngest World Chess Champion before Garry Kasparov?
    Answer: Mikhail Tal

89. What is the name of the chess opening that starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4?
    Answer: Scotch Game

90. What is the term for a position where one player has no legal moves but is not in check?
    Answer: Stalemate

91. Who was the first World Chess Champion to lose his title in a match?
    Answer: Wilhelm Steinitz

92. What is the name of the chess opening that starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6?
    Answer: Fianchetto Defense

93. What do we call the strategy of moving a piece to a better square to prepare for future moves?
    Answer: Maneuvering

94. Who was the first World Chess Champion to regain his title after losing it?
    Answer: Mikhail Botvinnik

95. What is the name of the chess opening that starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d3?
    Answer: King’s Indian Attack

96. What is the term for a pawn structure where a pawn is supported by another pawn?
    Answer: Pawn chain

97. Who was the first player to defeat Garry Kasparov in a World Chess Championship match?
    Answer: Vladimir Kramnik

98. What is the name of the chess opening that starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4?
    Answer: Scotch Game

99. What is the term for a position where one player cannot avoid losing material?
    Answer: Zugzwang

100. Who was the first woman to achieve a rating of 2600?
     Answer: Judit Polgar

Strategy Trivia

1. What is the term for a military tactic where forces surround and isolate an enemy?
   Answer: Encirclement

2. What is the term for a strategy where a player deliberately weakens their own position to lure the opponent into a trap?
   Answer: Gambit

3. Who is the author of “The Art of War”?
   Answer: Sun Tzu

4. What is the term for a strategy that involves a surprise attack on an enemy who is not prepared for battle?
   Answer: Ambush

5. What is the term for a strategy where one side attempts to wear down the enemy’s strength over time?
   Answer: War of attrition

6. What is the term for a strategy where a player sacrifices material for a long-term positional advantage?
   Answer: Positional sacrifice

7. Who is considered the father of modern military strategy?
   Answer: Carl von Clausewitz

8. What is the term for a strategy where a player attacks multiple points simultaneously?
   Answer: Multi-pronged attack

9. What is the term for a strategy that involves forcing the opponent to react defensively?
   Answer: Initiative

10. Who wrote “The Prince,” a treatise on political strategy?
    Answer: Niccolò Machiavelli

11. What is the term for a strategy where a player focuses on controlling key areas or points?
    Answer: Territorial control

12. What is the term for a strategy where a player prepares for a decisive battle while avoiding smaller engagements?
    Answer: Fabian strategy

13. What is the term for a strategy where one side tries to avoid direct confrontation and instead targets the enemy’s supply lines?
    Answer: Guerrilla warfare

14. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses deception to mislead the opponent?
    Answer: Feint

15. Who is the famous Chinese strategist who is said to have won battles without fighting?
    Answer: Sun Tzu

16. What is the term for a strategy that focuses on exhausting the enemy’s resources?
    Answer: Attrition warfare

17. What is the term for a strategy where a player quickly strikes at a weak point in the opponent’s defenses?
    Answer: Blitzkrieg

18. Who was the famous military leader who used the strategy of the indirect approach?
    Answer: Basil Liddell Hart

19. What is the term for a strategy where a player attempts to control the center of the board?
    Answer: Centralization

20. What is the term for a strategy where a player sacrifices a piece to gain a tactical advantage?
    Answer: Sacrifice

21. Who is considered the greatest military strategist of ancient Rome?
    Answer: Julius Caesar

22. What is the term for a strategy that involves controlling the flow of the game?
    Answer: Tempo

23. What is the term for a strategy where a player strengthens their own position while weakening the opponent’s?
    Answer: Positional play

24. Who wrote “On War,” a seminal work on military strategy?
    Answer: Carl von Clausewitz

25. What is the term for a strategy where a player attacks with the intention of forcing the opponent to retreat?
    Answer: Offensive

26. What is the term for a strategy where a player builds up forces for a large-scale attack?
    Answer: Build-up

27. Who is the famous strategist who said, “All warfare is based on deception”?
    Answer: Sun Tzu

28. What is the term for a strategy where a player controls key supply lines?
    Answer: Logistics control

29. What is the term for a strategy where a player focuses on outmaneuvering the opponent?
    Answer: Flanking

30. Who was the famous military leader who used a strategy of attrition during the American Civil War?
    Answer: Ulysses S. Grant

31. What is the term for a strategy where a player deliberately weakens the opponent’s morale?
    Answer: Psychological warfare

32. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses speed to gain a tactical advantage?
    Answer: Blitzkrieg

33. Who is the famous strategist who emphasized the importance of flexibility in warfare?
    Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte

34. What is the term for a strategy where a player builds up a strong defense before launching an attack?
    Answer: Defensive-offensive strategy

35. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses surprise to gain an advantage?
    Answer: Surprise attack

36. Who wrote “The Book of Five Rings,” a treatise on strategy?
    Answer: Miyamoto Musashi

37. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses minimal force to achieve maximum results?
    Answer: Economy of force

38. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses indirect methods to achieve their objectives?
    Answer: Indirect approach

39. Who was the famous military leader who used a strategy of scorched earth during the Russian campaign?
    Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte

40. What is the term for a strategy where a player disrupts the opponent’s plans?
    Answer: Disruption

41. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses a series of small attacks to wear down the opponent?
    Answer: Harassment

42. Who is the famous Chinese strategist who said, “Know your enemy and know yourself”?
    Answer: Sun Tzu

43. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses deception to create confusion in the opponent’s ranks?
    Answer: Misinformation

44. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses maneuverability to gain an advantage?
    Answer: Mobility

45. Who was the famous strategist who led Carthage in the Second Punic War?
    Answer: Hannibal Barca

46. What is the term for a strategy where a player controls the pace of the game?
    Answer: Tempo control

47. What is the term for a strategy where a player sacrifices short-term gains for long-term success?
    Answer: Long-term strategy

48. Who was the famous military leader who used the Fabian strategy during the Second Punic War?
    Answer: Quintus Fabius Maximus

49. What is the term for a strategy where a player focuses on defensive positions?
    Answer: Fortification

50. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses the terrain to their advantage?
    Answer: Terrain exploitation

51. Who was the famous military leader who used the strategy of divide and conquer?
    Answer: Julius Caesar

52. What is the term for a strategy where a player draws the opponent into a trap?
    Answer: Luring

53. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses rapid movements to outflank the opponent?
    Answer: Flanking

54. Who was the famous Chinese strategist who said, “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting”?
    Answer: Sun Tzu

55. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses surprise to gain the upper hand?
    Answer: Ambush

56. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses speed to outmaneuver the opponent?
    Answer: Rapid deployment

57. Who was the famous strategist who led the Mongol Empire to numerous victories?
    Answer: Genghis Khan

58. What is the term for a strategy where a player focuses on weakening the opponent’s supply lines?
    Answer: Cut-off strategy

59. What is the term for a strategy where a player concentrates their forces in one area to break through the opponent’s lines?
    Answer: Massed attack

60. Who was the famous military leader who used the strategy of total war during the American Civil War?
    Answer: William Tecumseh Sherman

61. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses minimal resources to achieve their goals?
    Answer: Economy of force

62. What is the term for a strategy where a player avoids direct confrontation and instead focuses on weakening the opponent?
    Answer: Attrition warfare

63. Who was the famous strategist who wrote “The Art of Strategy”?
    Answer: Avinash K. Dixit

64. What is the term for a strategy where a player focuses on gaining control of key points or areas?
    Answer: Positional control

65. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses a series of feints to confuse the opponent?
    Answer: Deception

66. Who was the famous military leader who used the strategy of island-hopping during World War II?
    Answer: Douglas MacArthur

67. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses a series of small, rapid attacks?
    Answer: Skirmishing

68. What is the term for a strategy where a player sacrifices material to gain a better position?
    Answer: Positional sacrifice

69. Who was the famous strategist who emphasized the importance of mobility in warfare?
    Answer: Basil Liddell Hart

70. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses overwhelming force to achieve a decisive victory?
    Answer: Shock and awe

71. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses indirect attacks to weaken the opponent?
    Answer: Indirect approach

72. Who was the famous military leader who used the strategy of divide and conquer during the Gallic Wars?
    Answer: Julius Caesar

73. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses deception to create an opening in the opponent’s defenses?
    Answer: Feint

74. What is the term for a strategy where a player focuses on controlling the tempo of the game?
    Answer: Tempo control

75. Who was the famous Chinese strategist who emphasized the importance of knowing both the enemy and oneself?
    Answer: Sun Tzu

76. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses a series of rapid attacks to overwhelm the opponent?
    Answer: Blitzkrieg

77. What is the term for a strategy where a player focuses on outmaneuvering the opponent’s forces?
    Answer: Flanking

78. Who was the famous military leader who used the strategy of guerrilla warfare during the American Revolution?
    Answer: Francis Marion

79. What is the term for a strategy where a player sacrifices short-term gains for long-term success?
    Answer: Long-term strategy

80. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses terrain to their advantage in battle?
    Answer: Terrain exploitation

81. Who was the famous strategist who led the Mongol Empire in a series of successful campaigns?
    Answer: Genghis Khan

82. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses surprise to gain a tactical advantage?
    Answer: Ambush

83. What is the term for a strategy where a player focuses on wearing down the opponent’s resources over time?
    Answer: War of attrition

84. Who was the famous military leader who used the strategy of total war during World War II?
    Answer: Curtis LeMay

85. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses deception to mislead the opponent?
    Answer: Misinformation

86. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses speed to gain a tactical advantage?
    Answer: Blitzkrieg

87. Who was the famous strategist who led the Soviet Union to victory during World War II?
    Answer: Georgy Zhukov

88. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses a series of small attacks to wear down the opponent?
    Answer: Harassment

89. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses rapid movements to outflank the opponent?
    Answer: Flanking

90. Who was the famous Chinese strategist who said, “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting”?
    Answer: Sun Tzu

91. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses deception to create confusion in the opponent’s ranks?
    Answer: Misinformation

92. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses maneuverability to gain an advantage?
    Answer: Mobility

93. Who was the famous strategist who led Carthage in the Second Punic War?
    Answer: Hannibal Barca

94. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses rapid movements to gain a tactical advantage?
    Answer: Rapid deployment

95. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses terrain to their advantage?
    Answer: Terrain exploitation

96. Who was the famous military leader who used the strategy of divide and conquer during the Gallic Wars?
    Answer: Julius Caesar

97. What is the term for a strategy where a player uses overwhelming force to achieve a decisive victory?
    Answer: Shock and awe

98. Who was the famous military leader who used the strategy of scorched earth during the Russian campaign?
    Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte

99. What is the term for a strategy where a player focuses on controlling key points or areas?
    Answer: Positional control

100. Who was the famous strategist who emphasized the importance of flexibility in warfare?
     Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte