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The first thing any chess teacher must do, when meeting a new student, is to discover how much he already knows.  Maybe you will ask him to demonstrate the basic mates with queen and with rook.  After that, you may set up the pieces and play a few moves with him, to see if he knows to develop his pieces and castle.  That will tell you a little, if the student is only a bit better than beginner.  But what if he is a more advanced player?  How can one determine, in an hour or so, exactly how much chess knowledge he has and where his deficiencies lie?  One way to answer this question came as early as 1980, when Danny Kopec and Dr. Ivan Bratko developed a 24 position test for use in evaluating computer chess programs.  The test, called the Bratko-Kopec (or BK) test, remained a standard tool for chess program developers for a number of years.  The positions test for a number of common tactical and positional ideas.

One of the first things we learned at the camp was that the tests were too hard for some of the weaker young players.  Even a player of 1500 rating could be expected to score only about 5 correct on the BK test.  So for the second year of the camp, Hal Terrie devised a new test, specifically designed for those of beginner level up to about 1500 rating.  In the years since then, four additional tests of varying levels have been constructed, with the goal of testing a wide range of middlegame and endgame concepts.

In 1997, the first six tests and some research results were collected into a book, Test, Evaluate and Improve Your Chess, a Knowledge-Based Approach.  In 2003, the USCF published a new edition, containing revised and improved test solutions, a new seventh test and updated research from the years 1997-2002.  Here now are some samples from these tests.  In this article, we will show you some positions from the earliest tests and from the two designed specifically for novice and intermediate players.  In a subsequent article, we may look at the other tests, two of which focus on endgame concepts.

The BK and New Positions tests feature tactical ideas of varying difficulty.  The student get two minutes to look at each position and list up to four moves in descending order of preference.  Here are some samples:
 

BK #15:  Fischer - Mecking
Palma de Mallorca Interzonal, 1970

White to move

[CV: After reviewing the position, scroll down for the commentary.]

1.Qxg7+ Qxg7 2.Rxf6 After the further: 2...Qxg3 3.hxg3 later followed by g4-g5-g6, Fischer managed to trade off his extra, doubled g-pawn to remain a pawn ahead.  A relatively simple tactical pattern.

BK #19:  Euwe - Keres
World Ch. Tnmt., The Hague, 1948

Black to move

[CV: After reviewing the position, scroll down for the commentary.]

This one is more difficult.  1...Rxe4!  The fork trick in action.  After: 2.Rxe4 d5 3.Qxa6 dxe4 4.Be3 Qg4! Keres quickly translates his central advantage into a winning kingside attack. 5.Qc4 Rd3! 6.Bc1 6.Qxe4?? Qe2–+ 6...Nh4! 7.Qxe4+ 7.g3 Rxg3+–+; 7.Rf2 Rd1+–+; 7.Qc2 f5! With the deadly threat of ...e3 (Kmoch). 7...f5 8.Qb7 c6 9.Qxc6 Rc3 10.Qd5 Rc5! To deflect the queen. The immediate 10...Rc2 would be met by 11.Bd2. 11.Qd2 To prevent ...Rc2 but now: Rxc1! The point being 12.Rxc1 Nf3+. Black won. (Source: Pawn Power in Chess, Diagram #154)

Here is one that tests a positional idea:

BK #3:  Bogoljubow - Spielmann
Match Game, 1932

White to move

[CV: After reviewing the position, scroll down for the commentary.]

1.d5! cxd5 2.e5 R6d7 2...d4? 3.exd6 dxc3 4.dxe7+ wins a piece.  3.Nd4  This is an example of a very characteristic lever, the "sweeper sealer twist" (Kmoch, 1959).  It involves a long term pawn sacrifice where, at the end of the principal variation (above):

White has: (1) gained full control of the open c-file, (2) sealed off Black's half open d-file, (3) gained a tremendous central post for his N, (4) weakened Black's pawns into three groups (three islands) and (5) gained a K-side majority of pawns.  (Source: Pawn Power in Chess, Diagram 144)
 

Positions like these first three were much too difficult for novice players, so the Novice test looks for knowledge of a variety of simpler concepts.  The test has eight positions each in the opening, middlegame and ending, at a variety of difficultly levels appropriate for less experienced players.  Once again, the student gets two minutes to look at each position but this time writes down only one move choice.
 

Novtest #6:  Simplify When Ahead

White to move

[CV: After reviewing the position, scroll down for the commentary.]

1.Bxd6 When ahead material in the endgame, always head for the simplest available position by exchanging the defending pieces. (Source: Hal Terrie composition, 1995)  If White tries 1.Kd4 instead, then 1...Nc4 gives him real trouble.
 

Novtest #13:  Only One Recapture

White to move

[CV: After reviewing the position, scroll down for the commentary.]

This position tests for simple tactical alertness.  After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7.Nxc6 Black should play 7...bxc6 but not 7...Qxc6?? 8.Bb5, losing the queen to a pin.

Novtest #9:  Seventh Rank

White to move

[CV: After reviewing the position, scroll down for the commentary.]

1.Rd1  1.Re1? allows Black to prevent White's rook from reaching the seventh rank by 1...Kf8

Analysis: After 1.Re1 Kf8

1...Kf8 2.Rd7±  (Source: Hal Terrie composition, 1995).

Position after 2.Rd7

 

Novtest #22:  Rook Behind Passed Pawn