Chess.

com University Prodigy Program General Placement Exam

Kairav Joshi, President of Chess.com University

The purpose of this exam is to determine the proper placement for students
registered for Chess.com Universitys Prodigy Program. Performance on this exam is
the key measure for determining which section (900, 1200, or 1500 ELO) we believe
is best for students who do not already have real over-the-board ratings.
There is only one entrance exam for all three sections. All students are to complete
the same problems. With that said, performance requirements for students wanting
to join the 1500 section are significantly higher than those wanting to join the 1200
section. Those wanting to join the 900 section do not need to take this exam. Those
who want to join the 1200+ section must take this exam unless if they already have a
real over-the-board rating above 1200 which we recognize such as FIDE, USCF, CFC,
etc. Similarly, those wanting to join the 1500+ section must take this exam and
perform well unless if they already have a real 1500+ rating.
There are two parts to this exam. Record your responses for both parts on the
answer sheet provided on the next page. Also fill out the short form asking for basic
student information. Save this PDF file with your responses included. Submit your
responses to us by sending an email to kairavjoshi@chess.com with the completed
PDF file attached.
Use the following heading for the subject line in the email:
Prodigy Program Placement Exam

Student Information
NAME: ___________________________ EMAIL: _____________________________

CHESS.COM USERNAME: ________________________________________________

SECTION TESTING FOR: _________ OFFICIAL ELO RATING (if applicable): __________

Answer Sheet

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Section 1
There are 15 problems in this section.
You are allowed to spend only 1 minute per problem.

Problem 1: White to Move

FEN: 1n6/N1pbrp1k/1p1p4/3P1p2/1PPBn3/P6P/5PP1/4R1K1 w - - 0 31

What is Whites best move?

Problem 2: Black to Move

FEN: r1b2rk1/1p3pp1/p1np1b1p/q5P1/4PP1P/2N5/PPPQ4/2KR1B1R b - - 0 14

What is Blacks best move?

Problem 3: White to Move

FEN: r1bqk1nr/p2nppb1/2p3p1/1p2P2p/7P/2N1BP2/PPPQ2P1/2KR1BNR w kq - 0 11

What is Whites best move?

Problem 4: White to Move

FEN: 3r1k2/p6Q/3r1p2/1p5p/3B3P/2P2P2/q1P2KP1/3R3R w - - 0 33

What is Whites best move?

Problem 5: White to Move

FEN: 2kr1b1r/pppnpppp/1q3nb1/3P4/5BP1/2N1N2P/PPP2P2/R2QKB1R w KQ - 0 13

What is Whites best move?

Problem 6: Black to Move

FEN: rnbqkb1r/1p2pppp/p2p1n2/8/3NPB2/2N5/PPP2PPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 0 6

What is Blacks best move?

Problem 7: White to Move

FEN: r1bqkb1r/pp1npppp/2p2n2/8/3PN3/8/PPP1QPPP/R1B1KBNR w KQkq - 0 6

What is Whites best move?

Problem 8: Black to Move

FEN: 3r1rk1/p4ppp/7q/2R1b3/P3P3/1P1b1RP1/3NN2P/4Q1K1 b - - 0 22

What is Blacks best move?

Problem 9: White to Move

FEN: r1bqkb1r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/4p3/2B1P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 0 4

Identify two good moves for White. Which move is your favorite?

Problem 10: Black to Move

FEN: rnbqk2r/pp1p1ppp/4pn2/2b5/4P3/5N2/PPPB1PPP/RN1QKB1R b KQkq - 0 5

Identify two great moves for Black.

Problem 11: White to Move

FEN: rnbqkbnr/pp1p1ppp/8/4p3/3pP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 0 4

Identify two good moves for White. Which move is your favorite?

Problem 12: White to Move

FEN: rnbq1rk1/p1p2ppp/1p2pb2/8/3P4/5NP1/PPP2PBP/R1BQK2R w KQ - 0 9

Identify two good moves for White. Which move is best?

Problem 13: White to Move

FEN: 6k1/8/6K1/8/5R2/8/8/8 w - - 0 1

How quickly can White win? Provide a sample continuation.

Problem 14: White to Move

FEN: 8/8/4k3/4pN2/3b4/5KR1/8/8 w - - 0 0

How should White play here?

Problem 15: White to Move

FEN: 8/3k4/8/4K3/3P4/8/8/8 w - - 0 1

What is Whites best move?

Section 2
There are 5 problems in this section. This section is untimed. Think well!

Problem 16: Black to Move

FEN: 8/1k3ppp/6P1/1K3P1P/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 0

Can Black save this position or is it lost? If Black can draw, identify Blacks best move.

Problem 17: Black to Move

FEN: 8/3k4/8/3KP3/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1

Black has 5 legal moves. Evaluate each move. Which moves lose for Black? Which moves draw for Black?

Problem 18: Black to Move

FEN: Q2Rnk1b/4pr1p/p4qp1/8/3p4/6P1/P2P3P/4R2K b - - 0 28

Does 1Qf3+ here make any sense for Black? Why or why not?

Problem 19: White to Move

FEN: 2r2k2/p3p3/3r1n2/1p2Q1Np/3B3P/2P2P2/q1P2KP1/3R3R w - - 0 29

White is not far from winning this game. Lets solidify our position. What is the best way to defend c2?

Problem 20: White to Move

FEN: r1bq1rk1/1p2ppbp/2n2np1/p2p4/P3P3/1NN5/1PP1BPPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 10

Black just played d5. Was this move playable for Black or was it a mistake? Either way, analyze the
position thoroughly and try to find the best moves for both sides several moves deep. Evaluate the
resulting position. What is Whites best move here? Provide the best move and optimal continuation.

You have now completed the Chess.com University Prodigy Program Placement Exam! Remember to
submit your answers to kairavjoshi@chess.com by November 22nd, 2014 if you wish to start the
program on its first day - November 29th, 2014.