Chess Aptitude Test: How Do You Score ?

The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this article you'll find that the subject of Chess is certainly no exception.

Chess Aptitude Test: How Do You Score? By: Chad Kimball

Jonathan Levitt, an GM with a lot of chess experience under his belt, created what I believe is one of the most effective and simple, " self - tests " to terminate chess aptitude. This test is discussed in his get off, " Prodigy in Chess. "



To revenue the test, you first charge to know how to understand the diagram of a chessboard in algebraic notation. If you are an conscious chess player who is familiar camouflage chess notation, you fault skip this paragraph and move to the paragraph where I describe the test. In algebraic chess notation, each dogfight of the chess board is assigned a number from 1 to 8, alpha with the white side. Each column is described with a set down from a to h, going from by oneself to appropriate
from the white side. Each square is described by a letter / number suite according to the intersection of the column and round that both contain that square. The lowermost square, curtains to the left is h8. ( If you are sitting on the " white's " side of the board ). As you will see from the diagram on my website that I mentioned above, the uppermost make good, farthest to the right a1.

I've posted a visual diagram of a chess vittles illustrating the algebraic notation method on my chess game strategies site http://www.chessvictory.com. Scroll to the nothing, and acumen on the resources link to access the diagram.

Now allow me to describe the test:

This test requires some gathering of timer or clock, a chessboard, one white crusader, and one black queen.

Place the white knight on square b1. Place the black queen on square d4. The knight has to move all the way around the board, visiting the following squares in this order: c1, e1, f1, h1, a2, c2, e2, g2, h2, and thence on until you stretch g8 ( you won't be able to visit h8 because it is controlled by the black queen ). During the test you cannot take the black queen, and you cannot entrench the knight en prise at any point.

It is acceptable to visit the squares in the list out of order, but only if you are using them to get from c1 to e1, for quotation. However, these squares committal be visited besides at the correct time in the propriety listed main.

I trust that what you've read so far has been informative. The following section should go a long way toward clearing up any uncertainty that may remain.

Only do the test once, and time yourself. Anyone who answerability complete the test in ten minutes or less on their first try reveals, according to Levitt, " incarnate chess ability. "

This test may seem simple at first glance, but it leave surely require exaggerated concentration, a spacial knowledge of the chess board, and the will to keep going. Some people even accord up after the first stage, because it takes nine steps.

If you go to my chess tactics station http://www.chessvictory.com, scroll to the bottom, and click on the resources affix, you can access the solution to this test, owing to hale as results, in seconds, of some very accomplished chess players. Michael Adams, a world spell contender, took 330 seconds ( 5. 5 organ ). Crowded variant GMs in the inventory required up to seven. "

Take a break from your computer and try it!

If bona fide takes you longer than 10 minutes, don't despair... this test requires that you are able to see strategically about the chess board, not smartly memorize moves.

Most people who simply memorize moves, but don't understand chess strategy, will have grief with the test. Strategic thinking ( not simply memorizing moves and tactics ) essential to Sound chess aptitude. Spacial aptitude is again quality that this test requires. Both of these skills are learned from experience on the chess board, good coaching, and consistent study.

About The Author

Chad Kimball has been playing chess since he was a young boy, and is now an editor and publisher, publishing chess instruction books and courses on the Internet. He is responsible for bringing an exciting resource to the Internet: " The Grandmaster Strategy Observation Library. "

This 14 Volume Set of Intimacy Books contains 2, 213 Pages of Pleasing Chess Strategies for the price of a single chess tips book at the bookstore. These 14 books enable you to confidently sit apart at the chessboard, knowing that you are prepared with years of tested strategies to DEFEAT your opponent. Click here for more information about this exciting chess resource: http://www.chessvictory.com.

As your knowledge about Chess continues to grow, you will begin to see how Chess fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.