Hilarious Chess Exam - Answers to Part 1 & 2

Hello & Namaste! 
Last week, I shared two posts titled 'Hilarious Chess Exam' and I'll be sharing the answers to the questions. If you haven't attempted them already, here is one more chance: 

https://www.chess.com/blog/Geborgenheit/hilarious-chess-exam

https://www.chess.com/blog/Geborgenheit/hilarious-chess-exam-part-2

1. Which chess piece controls 14 squares irrespective of where it is placed?

Rook!

2. Which are some of the chess oriented movies? (Minimum 5)
I have a long list! https://8cross8.com/chess-movies-cannot-afford-miss/
Short films: https://8cross8.com/chess-oriented-short-films/

My personal favorite: Beladingala Baale (Kannada film) Searching for Bobby Fischer, Postman (short film)

3.Consider the following situations: 
White sacrificed his Queen and managed to promote his pawn to a Queen by capturing the rook: exf8 = Q. By how many points is white ahead of black?
a) 4
b)3
c)9
d)5
Answer: White Queen is sacrificed - 9
               White attains a rook in return +5
               White promotes the pawn -1 to a queen + 9
               Total: 4

4. The White King on h1 and the Black King on h8 are gearing up for a fight. White’s target is to reach a8 or c8. Black’s target is to reach a1 or c1. Since white gets to move first, black is considered as a winner if he manages to stop White’s king from reaching a8 or c8. Who is most likely to win? What should white play? (5 minutes)

1.Kh2 is the only move that attains the opposition! 

6. What is so special about this position? (Composed by Ropke)

That all the moves are forced! That was just a funny question. 

 6. A composer announced : White mates in one. Can you prove him right? 

1.b8= Black knight is the answer. One of the comments was very funny and it directed me to a wonderful video called Capablanca vs Alien.  Thank you! The comment about pawn promotion

White to play and Mate in 2

10. White to move! The second move and the last move are the keys to the answer. 
First move is pretty easy :-) 

Now coming to the second part!

11. State at least 4 ways to achieve half point in the game of chess. 
Now, I must admit that this was not the best way to phrase the question. One of the users shared the following:  www.chess.com/blog/Geborgenheit/hilarious-chess-exam-part-2#comment-44254772 and so to rephrasing it this way: 4 ways to achieve only half a point in the game of chess - Basically draws  
Draw by mutual agreement- Stalemate - Perpetual - Threefold repetition - Insufficient material - 50 moves without pawn move. More details here: https://www.chessstrategyonline.com/content/tutorials/how-to-play-chess-draws


12. Tom Cruise is in danger and he has to execute the Mission Impossible-Draw Protocol. WTP (Composed by Hasek)

There is one movie scene that reminds me of this kind of an escape - The Recent Mission Impossible movie - 

13. Every P A W N is just six steps away from greatness

14.  Complete the poem with a chess theme: (Poem by Niranjan Navalgund)

Before your life ends up in a ZUGZWANG
Learn to pin, Devoid of sins!
Skewer your thoughts,
Hope against odds.
Maneuver your troops and forces
Plant outposts and seal victories
Remember-
Numbered are your moments,
To post your deserving achievements!
Plan, Work Sail and Prevail
This is the way you must trail.
Chess is timing, so Is Life!
Move with a purpose, Have High aims!
Face the gale when
Defence is the demand
Hold on! Take charge and command.
Do the best and Leave the Rest
To God!
And he will save your position from the Critical ZUGZWANG !

15. State whether True or False
a) The Queen can move only like a Rook and a Bishop:  False - It can also move like a King
b) En passant is an optional capture: False. This comment got me thinking! www.chess.com/blog/Geborgenheit/hilarious-chess-exam-part-2#comment-44235694
c) Under all circumstances, the king can move only one step at a time - False - Castling is a Hanuman jump  
d) When the pawn reaches the last rank, it can get promoted to any piece - False - cant get promoted to a KING!
e) Castling with both the hands is legal - False- It is illegal to use two hands to castle. 

16.  Caissa is considered as the Chess Goddess

17. International Chess Day is celebrated on 20th July every year.

18.  Judit Polgar is the only woman in the history of chess to surpass 2700 rating threshold. 

19. Math the following 

A)Garry Kasparov                                  =  6. 13th World Champion
B) Kalashnikov                                       =  5. An opening named after a rifle   
C) Benko                                                =  4. Gambit 
D) Aleksandr Dronov                             =  3. World Correspondence champion
E) Alexei Troitzky                                    = 2. Chess Composer.
F) Wilhelm Steinitz                                 = 1. 1st World Champion

20. State one quickest possible mate in the game of chess.
 1.f4 e6 2.g4 Qh4# A lot of them got this one right too!

I'm very happy by the number of responses! Hoping to come back with another blog post soon. If you liked the post, please consider following me on Twitch and Subscribing to my YouTube channel. Thank you!