What better way to start the new year with some mind-bending questions about chess could there be? That’s right, none whatsoever. I’ve drawn material from Mr.Winter’s Chess Facts and Fables (2006) and added some broader general knowledge questions to balance things out a little. Solutions can be found below. Enjoy:
1) The New York Leger paid which player a sum of $3000 (approx.$60,000 in today’s world) to write a weekly chess column for a period of one year starting in May 1859?
2) Which country did Capablanca once claim to be ‘most suitable’ for producing chess players, courtesy of its ‘raw climate’?
3) Prior to F.I.D.E’s decision to hold a tournament to decide the vacant world championship in 1948, a match between which two players was suggested by Eugene Znosko-Borovsky as an alternative solution following the death of Alekhine?
4) What is the shortest decisive game in a world championship match?
5) Against which former embattled F.I.D.E president did Mikail Tal play his first game as world champion at the Leipzig Olympiad 1960?
6) What infamous event concerning the chess player F.Womersley occurred in Hastings on September 13th 1911?
7) Which ex-world champion was accused of being a collaborator with the nazis by much of the chess world?
8) Which player has beaten 7 world champions, (including two with the opening move f4?)
9) As of 2013, Russia has more registered Grandmasters than any other country, but which country is second according to F.I.D.E?
10 Who is the only Englishman to compete in a F.I.D.E world championship final?
Answers, (page numbers refer to Chess Facts and Fables)
1 Paul Morphy, (pg 69)
2 England, (pg 90)
3 Euwe and Botvinnik, (pg 93)
4 Anand-Gelfand (http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1666558)
5 Campomanes
6 He was shot dead. (pg 163)
7 Alekhine
8 Bent Larsen
9 Germany
10 Michael Adams
Your score:
7-10. You clearly have a fantastic knowledge of chess. If knowledge and ability were one and the same, you’d be a 2600 player for sure.
3-6. You can talk a good game no doubt and can contribute to any pub conversation. Everyone will think you are a tidy little FM.
0-3. Time for you to buy Chess Facts and Fables.
MJM
McCreadyandChess 
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