Chess Puzzle players of all ages, and especially for young people. Chess teaches problem solving, hones concen- tration and encourages analytical and strategic thinking. Chess can be a lifelong pursuit. Chess puzzle solving introduces students to the study of chess in a format that can be easily implemented in A+ school programs and district meets. Section 1416: CHESS PUZZLE (a) REPRESENTATION. (1) Contestants. Students in second, er section. Answer formats may third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh include fill-in-the-blank, multiple and eight grades who are eligible choice and/or true/false. under sections 1400 and 1405 (3) Test. The league will make avail- may enter this contest. able sets of test questions, one (2) Divisions. This contest will consist test for each division for invita- of three divisions: (2nd and 3rd), tional meets, one test for each (4th and 5th), (6th, 7th and 8th). division for fall/winter district With the approval of the district meets, and one test for each divi- executive committee, a district sion for spring district meets. may have separate divisions for (c) CONTEST ADMINISTRATION. each grade. (1) Personnel. All personnel in the (3) Individual Competition. For each contest may be coaches of par- division, each participant school ticipating students. may enter as many as three con- (A) Contest Director. The testants in the district meet. contest director will be (4) Team Competition. If the district has in charge of running the elected to include team competi- contest and resolving any tion, the combined scores of the problems that arise. The three contestants in each division director may appoint an from a school shall constitute the assistant director. school’s team score. A team shall (B) Timekeeper. The contest have three contestants compete director will serve as offi- to participate in team competi- cial timekeeper and will tion. give only a start and stop (b) NATURE OF THE CONTEST. signal. A clock should be (1) Summary. The study of chess visible to all contestants. teaches analytical thinking, pattern (C) Graders. At least three grad- recognition and creativity, which ers should be familiar with in turn improve student perfor- the instructions for grading mance in reading, writing, history, and contest rules. The con- geography, and math. test director may recruit (2) Contest Format. Students will take more than three graders. a 30-minute objective test con- (2) Time. For all divisions, contes- taining approximately 20 chess tants will be given 30 minutes 32 puzzles, plus a separate tiebreak- to answer all test questions and (2) Criteria. The test is graded objec- an additional five minutes for the tively. tiebreaker section. (3) Scoring. Each test shall be scored (3) Materials. according to the grading instruc- Chess Puzzle (A) Provided by UIL. Copies of test, tions provided. Each test should be answer key and answer sheet. independently scored twice, and (B) Provided by the School or Stu- papers contending to place should dent. Pens or pencils. be scored a third time. (C) Other. No other materials or (4) Ties. For all contestants involved notes may be used in the con- in a tie, grade the five-minute tie- test. breaker section according to the (d) CONDUCTING THE CONTEST. grading instructions provided. In (1) Numbering of Contestants. Distribute individual competition, if two or a copy of the test and answer sheet more contestants tie, the contes- to each contestant. Instructing them tant with the best tiebreaker score not to open test until the start sig- receives the higher place. In team nal is given. As roll is called, instruct competition, if two or more teams students to write their assigned tie, the team with the best com- number in the space provided on bined tiebreaker score for all team their answer sheets. members wins the tiebreaker and STUDY (2) Clear Room. Contestants and coach- receives the higher place. If two RESOURCES es should be informed of the time or more individuals or teams have and place of the verification period. both the same objective score and The 2013-2014 Coaches who are not assigned a the same tiebreaker score, the tie Elementary specific duty in administering the stands and will not be broken. If and Junior contest should be dismissed from there is a tie for first place, there High Academic the contest room before the con- is no second place. If there is a tie Study Materials test begins. for second place, there is no third Booklets include (3) Testing. Inform contestants that place, etc. practice tests answers must be recorded on the (5) Points. Points are awarded through that were used in answer sheets according to the sixth place. Team points are awarded last year’s pilot instructions given. Contestants may through third place. See Section competitions. write or mark on the puzzle sheet. 1408 (i). Tied contestants or teams Contestants should remain in their split the total points equally for the Visit the Chess seats throughout the testing period. two or more places in which the tie Puzzle page of When the 30-minute contest peri- exists. the UIL web od has ended, give the stop signal (f) VERIFICATION PERIOD. The contest site for links director should designate a time and and ask all contestants to put their to online study place for a 15-minute verification period pens/pencils down. Collect all test and practice and answer sheets, and distribute a at which time contestants and/or coach- es are given the opportunity to view resources. tiebreaker section and answer sheet their test papers with official answer to each contestant. keys. Unofficial results should be posted. (4) Tiebreaker. When tiebreaker test Questions should be directed to the papers and answer sheets have been contest director, whose decision will be distributed, instruct contestants to final. record all answers on the answer (g) OFFICIAL RESULTS. After the verifica- sheet. Give the signal to start. When tion period has ended and all test papers the five-minute tiebreaker period have been collected, the contest director has ended, give the stop signal and shall announce the official results. Official ask all contestants to put their pens/ results, once announced, are final. pencils down. Collect all tiebreaker (h) RETURNING MATERIALS. No materi- als from the fall/winter district contest test papers and answer sheets. may be returned to contestants before (e) GRADING. January 31. No materials from the spring (1) Briefing Graders. Brief graders on the district contest may be returned to procedure to be used for grading contestants before the Saturday prior to and explain scoring process.. Memorial Day. 33 From 2/3 Fall/Winter District Test 2012-2013 UIL Chess Puzzle Solving—Fall/Winter District 2012-2013—Grades 2 and 3 #1. White to move #2. White to move Chess Puzzle These sample test questions are taken from the 2012-2013 Fall/Winter tests for grades 2/3 and 4/5, and the Spring Test How can White checkmate Black in one How can White checkmate Black in for grades 6-8. move? one move? Actual tests a) Qc7 a) Qh7 include 20 b) Qd6 b) Qg6 questions. c) Qb8 c) Qd8 d) White can’t checkmate Black in one d) White can’t checkmate Black in one move. move. #3. White to move #4. White to move How can White checkmate Black in one How can White checkmate Black in one move? move? a) Bh5 a) Nf7 b) Bc6 b) Ng6 c) Bd5 c) Rxh7 d) White can’t checkmate Black in one d) White can’t checkmate Black in one move. move. Answers: 1- c 2 - a 3 - b 4 - b 34 From 4/5 Fall/Winter District Test 2012-2013 UIL Chess Puzzle Solving—Fall/Winter District 2012-2013—Grades 4 and 5 #1. White to move #2. White to move Chess Puzzle UIL Chess Puzzle Solving—Fall/Winter District 2012-2013—Grades 2 and 3 IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS: [Test-administrators, please read text in this box aloud.] This is the UIL Chess Puzzle Solving District test for grades two and three. There are 20 questions on this test. You have 30 minutes to complete it. All questions are multiple choice. Use the separate answer sheet to write all your answers. Multiple choice answers purposely do not indicate checks or checkmate symbols. You will be awarded one point for each correct answer. No deductions will be made for incorrect answers on this test. Finishing early is not rewarded, even to break ties. So use all of your time. If you don’t already know chess notation, reading and referring to the section below on this page will help you. Some of the questions may be hard, but all of the puzzles are interesting! Good luck and have fun! Test questionsHow to read and answer questions on this test How does White checkmate Black in Piece Names Letter Each chessman can How does White checkmate Black in • To answer the questions on this test, you’ll Abbreviation also be represented need touse know standardhow to read chess moves. It’s (Algebraic Notation) by a symbol, except one move? for the pawn. one move? simplealgebraic to do. (Figurine Notation) Rh6 King K K a) a) Bxf7 • Everychess square on the board has an “address” Queen Q Q made up of a letter and a number. b) Rh1 b) Nxf7 notation. Rook R R R Bishop B B c) a8 c) NxQ Knight N N d) White can’t checkmate Black in one Pawn a-h a-h d) White can’t checkmate Black in one (We write the (We write the file it’s on.) file it’s on.) move.