Chess Aptitude Test

I love this guy's articles on chess from the Guardian.

This one details one of the great talent tests for chess aptitude. Jonathan Levitt devised it, and I'll quote the article below which briefly describes this "talent test"

Place a white knight at b1 and a black queen at d4. The knight has to tour the board without ever being put en prise to the black queen or capturing it. It should visit squares in the order c1, e1, f1, h1, a2, c2, e2, g2, h2, a3 and so on to g8 (h8 is controlled by the queen).

The task may sound simple but is demanding on concentration, spatial aptitude, and willpower. Many people cannot even manage the first stage from b1 to c1, which takes nine steps. It is a timed test, so you need a watch as well as a chessboard and the two pieces.

Levitt says that anyone who can do the full tour in less than 10 minutes at the first attempt has real aptitude. Michael Adams, a world title contender, took 5½ minutes, other GMs up to seven.

full article:
http://sport.guardian.co.uk/chess/story/0,15873,1566952,00.html