UIL stands for University Interscholastic League.Thanks to UIL and Texas Tech University Chess Program, Chess Puzzle is now an official event for UIL A+ Academics. Dr. Alexey Root is writing an article about Chess Puzzle for Chess Life magazine. Her book Science, Math, Checkmate: 32 Chess Activities for Inquiry and Problem Solving provides activities that UIL Chess Puzzle sponsors can share with students to help them succeed at the UIL Chess Puzzle event.

Here is one example. Some of the Chess Puzzle questions ask "Which side has the greater value of material left on the the board?" The chess and math activity "Balancing Chess Equations" helps UIL Chess Puzzle sponsors prepare students. The activity teaches students the values of the chessmen, how to add and subtract those those values, and how to determine the value of a group of chessmen.

alexey root blog science math checkmate