Chess Terms
Tactics
69 terms
- Absolute PinA pin against the king. The pinned piece cannot legally move because moving would expose check.
- AttackAn attack is pressure against something important: the king, a loose piece, a weak pawn, or a key square. A good attack uses several pieces together and creates threats the opponent must answer.
- AttractionA decoy idea where a piece is pulled onto a square that allows a follow-up tactic.
- BlitzkriegA blitzkrieg is sometimes used to describe a quick attack on the f7- or f2-square early in the game.
- BrilliancyA brilliancy is a move or game that is unusually creative, beautiful, and correct. Most brilliancies are built on concrete tactics, not magic.
- CaptureA move that removes an enemy piece from the board by moving onto its square.
- CheapoIn chess, cheapo refers to slang for a primitive trap, often set in the hope of swindling a win or a draw from a lost position. Also called cheap shot.
- ClearanceMoving a piece away so another piece, pawn, square, file, rank, or diagonal can be used.
- Clearance SacrificeA sacrifice that vacates a square or line for another piece to use.
- Collinear moveIn chess, collinear move refers to a move in which two opposing pieces face each other, and one slides along the line of attack without capturing the enemy piece.
- CombinationA calculated sequence of forcing moves that uses one or more tactical ideas to reach a clear result.
- ConsolidationIn chess, consolidation refers to the improvement of a player's position by the reposition of one or more pieces to better square(s), typically after a player's attack or combination has left their pieces in poor positions or uncoordinated.
- Control of the centerControl of the center: Having one or more pieces that attack any of the four center squares; an important strategy, and one of the main aims of openings.
- CrushIn chess, crush refers to colloquial for a quick win, especially an overwhelming attack versus poor defensive play. A crushing move is a decisive one.
- DecoyLuring or forcing a piece onto a bad square where it becomes vulnerable or blocks its own side.
- DeflectionForcing a defender away from an important job such as guarding a square, piece, or mating line.
- DesperadoA doomed piece grabs material or creates threats before it is lost.
- Discovered AttackMoving one piece out of the way to reveal an attack from a rook, bishop, or queen behind it.
- Discovered CheckA discovered attack where the revealed piece gives check.
- Diversionary sacrificeDiversionary sacrifice: Especially in the middlegame, the sacrifice of a decoy piece.
- Double AttackA move that creates two threats at once without necessarily being a classic fork by one piece.
- Double CheckA check from two pieces at once. Since both attacks cannot be captured or blocked together, the king usually must move.
- ExchangeA sequence where both sides capture material, often used to simplify, win material, or change the structure.
- Exchange SacrificeGiving up a rook for a bishop or knight to gain compensation such as activity, attack, or structure.
- Exchange, theIn chess, exchange, the refers to the advantage of a rook over a minor piece (knight or bishop). The player who captures a rook for a minor piece is said to have "won the exchange", the player who has lost the rook has "lost the exchange". An exchange sacrifice is giving up a rook for a minor piece.
- Exploit PinUsing an existing pin as the reason a tactic works, instead of merely noticing that a piece is pinned.
- Family ForkA knight fork that attacks the king, queen, and sometimes more pieces in the same tactic.
- Flight squareIn chess, flight square refers to a square to which a piece can move, that allows it to escape attack. Also called escape square.
- ForkA single piece attacks two or more important targets at once.
- GardezIn chess, gardez refers to an announcement to the opponent that their queen is under direct attack, similar to the announcement of "check". This warning was customary until the early 20th century.
- Hanging PieceA piece that is undefended or insufficiently defended and can often be won.
- Horwitz bishopsIn chess, Horwitz bishops refers to a player's light-square bishop and dark-square bishop placed so that they occupy adjacent diagonals, creating a potent attack. Also called raking bishops, and sometimes Harrwitz bishops.
- In-Between MoveA forcing move inserted before the expected move, often a check or threat that changes the sequence.
- InterferencePutting a piece between enemy pieces to block a defensive line or break coordination.
- Intermediate moveIntermediate move is another name for zwischenzug.
- InterposeIn chess, interpose means to move a piece between an attacking piece and its target, blocking the line or diagonal of attack. Interposing is not possible if the attacker is a knight, king, or pawn, thus only possible in case of attacking rooks, bishops, or queens. Interposing a piece is one of the three possible responses to a check.
- Knight ForkA knight attacks two or more valuable targets at once, often because knight attacks are hard to visualize.
- Loose PieceA piece that is not defended well enough, often becoming a target for tactics.
- Mating attackIn chess, mating attack refers to an attack aimed at checkmating the enemy king.
- Minority attackIn chess, minority attack refers to an advance of pawns on the side of the board where one has fewer pawns than the opponent, an attack strategy usually carried out to provoke a weakness.
- OddsOdds: This refers to the stronger player giving the weaker player some sort of advantage in order to make the game more competitive. It may be an advantage in material, in extra moves, in time on the clock, or some combination of those elements. Since the advent of the chess clock, time odds have become more common than material odds.
- OverloadingA defender has too many jobs, so one forcing move makes it fail at one of them.
- PassiveIn chess, passive refers to a term for a piece or pawn that is inactive and able to move to or control relatively few squares, or a position without possibilities for attack or counterplay. Opposite: active.
- Passive sacrificeIn chess, passive sacrifice refers to the sacrifice of a piece, by moving a different piece, leaving the sacrificed piece under attack.
- Pawn ForkA pawn attacks two valuable pieces from its diagonal capture squares.
- Philidor sacrificeIn chess, Philidor sacrifice refers to the sacrifice of a minor piece for one or two pawns for greater pawn mobility as compensation.
- PinA line tactic where moving the front piece would expose a more valuable piece or the king behind it.
- Positional sacrificeIn chess, positional sacrifice refers to a sacrifice in which the lost material is not regained via a combination, but instead gains positional compensation. These typically require deep positional understanding and are often overlooked by computers. Also known as a true sacrifice, as opposed to a pseudo sacrifice or sham sacrifice.
- Pseudo sacrificePseudo sacrifice is another name for sham sacrifice.
- QuestionQuestion: Usually in the form "put the question to [a piece]", to force the opponent to commit to a strategic decision regarding the future of a piece.
- Quiet MoveA non-checking, non-capturing move that creates a threat the opponent cannot meet.
- Relative PinA pin against a valuable piece other than the king. Moving is legal, but it usually loses material or position.
- Remove DefenderCapturing or eliminating the piece that protects a target or key square.
- RetreatA backward move that improves the piece, saves a threat, or creates a stronger tactic from a safer square.
- Royal ForkA fork that attacks the king and queen at the same time.
- SacIn chess, sac refers to short for sacrifice, usually used to describe a sacrifice for a mating attack.
- SacrificeGiving up material deliberately to gain attack, initiative, promotion chances, or a forced tactical payoff.
- Silent moveIn chess, silent move refers to a move that has a dynamic tactical effect on a position, but that does not capture or attack an enemy piece.
- SkewerA line attack on a valuable piece that must move, exposing a less valuable piece behind it.
- Staircase maneuverIn chess, staircase maneuver refers to a tactic by which a queen, rook, or king progresses along a diagonal by making a series of lateral steps using a series of checks or alternating with pins and checks. Also called staircase movement.
- TacticA short forcing idea that exploits something concrete: an unsafe king, loose piece, weak square, or overloaded defender.
- TrapIn chess, trap refers to a move that may tempt the opponent to play a losing move.
- Trapped PieceA piece has too few safe squares and cannot avoid capture or loss.
- UnderminingIn chess, undermining refers to a tactic (also known as "removal of the guard") in which a defensive piece is captured, leaving one of the opponent's pieces undefended or underdefended.
- UnpinningIn chess, unpinning refers to the act of breaking a pin by interposing a second piece between the attacker and the target. This allows the piece that was formerly pinned to move.
- Vacating sacrificeIn chess, vacating sacrifice refers to a sacrifice made for the purpose of clearing a square for a different piece of the same color.
- WindmillA repeating discovered-check pattern that wins material move after move.
- X-Ray AttackA piece attacks or defends through another piece, so the hidden line matters before the front piece moves.
- ZwischenschachZwischenschach: Playing a surprising check that the opponent did not consider when plotting a sequence of moves; a zwischenzug that is a check.
Thinking & Calculation
20 terms
- AnalysisAnalysis is the process of studying a position or game to understand what happened and what should have happened. Good analysis explains the reason behind a move, not just the engine number.
- Best MoveThe strongest move in the position, considering tactics, evaluation, and practical conversion.
- BlunderA serious error that loses major material, allows mate, or throws away the result immediately.
- CalculationThe process of looking ahead through candidate moves and replies to decide whether a line works.
- Candidate MoveA move worth calculating seriously before choosing what to play.
- Computer moveA computer move is an engine's preferred move. The teaching goal is to translate it into a human reason: tactic, defense, square, trade, king safety, or pawn break.
- Critical PositionA moment where one accurate decision changes the evaluation or the plan of the game. Slow down here: candidate moves matter more than habit.
- Engine MoveA computer-preferred move that may be tactically precise but hard to find without calculation.
- EvaluationA judgment of who stands better and why, based on material, king safety, piece activity, pawn structure, and threats.
- Forcing MoveA move that sharply limits the opponent's replies, usually a check, capture, direct threat, or promotion threat.
- Human MoveA move that follows understandable plans and practical pressure, even if it is not always the engine's first choice.
- InaccuracyA smaller error that gives up some value, tempo, or pressure without immediately deciding the game.
- MistakeA move that clearly worsens the position but usually does not lose the game instantly.
- Move QualityA practical label for how much a move helps or harms the position compared with better alternatives.
- Only MoveThe single move that keeps the position from collapsing, saves a draw, or preserves a winning advantage.
- PlyIn chess, ply refers to term mainly used in computer chess to denote one play of either White or Black. Thus equal to half a move.
- Post mortemA post-mortem is analysis after a game, often with the opponent. The goal is to find the turning points and understand the decisions, not to prove who was right.
- TempoA unit of time in chess. Gaining a tempo means improving your position while forcing the opponent to spend time responding.
- Text moveText move: This term is used in written analysis of chess games to refer to a move actually played in the game as opposed to other possible moves. Often shortened to text, for example "The text is inferior as it allows...f5." Text moves are usually in bold whereas analysis moves are not.
- ThreatA move or idea that will create damage next move if the opponent ignores it.
King Safety
12 terms
- Attacking f2/f7Pressure against f2 or f7, the naturally weakest pawn near the starting king because only the king defends it at first.
- Back Rank WeaknessA king has limited escape squares on the back rank and may be vulnerable to mate or tactical pressure.
- CastlingA special move that tucks the king toward safety and activates a rook.
- Castling RightsThe right to castle, lost after moving the king or the relevant rook.
- CheckAn attack on the enemy king that must be answered immediately.
- Exposed KingA king with weakened cover, open lines, or too few defenders nearby.
- King AttackA coordinated attempt to open lines, remove defenders, and create threats against the enemy king.
- King in the CenterA king that has not castled and remains exposed to central files, checks, and opening tactics.
- King SafetyHow secure the king is from checks, open lines, sacrifices, and mating nets.
- LuftAn escape square for the king, usually created by moving a pawn to prevent back rank mate.
- Opposite-Side CastlingA structure where players castle on different wings, often creating pawn storms and direct attacks.
- Pawn ShieldThe pawns in front of a castled king that help block files and diagonals.
Checkmate Patterns
22 terms
- Anastasia's MateA knight controls escape squares while a rook or queen mates along the edge.
- Announced mateIn chess, announced mate refers to a practice, common in the 19th century, whereby a player would announce a sequence of moves, believed by them to constitute best play by both sides, that led to a forced checkmate for the announcing player in a specified number of moves (for example, "mate in five").
- Arabian MateA rook and knight mate where the king is trapped on the edge or corner.
- Back Rank MateCheckmate on the back rank when the king is trapped by its own pieces or controlled escape squares.
- Blind pigsIn chess, blind pigs refers to a pair of rooks on the opponent's second rank are referred to as "pigs" as they tend to devour pawns and pieces, and "blind pigs" if they cannot find the mate.
- Boden's MateTwo bishops deliver mate on crossing diagonals against a king blocked by its own pieces.
- Capped pieceIn chess, capped piece refers to a particular piece with which one player attempts to deliver checkmate. The requirement to checkmate with the capped piece constitutes a handicap. When the capped piece is a pawn, it is called a pion coiffé [from French, "capped pawn"].
- CheckmateA position where the king is in check and has no legal escape.
- Dead positionIn chess, dead position refers to a position where neither player can mate the opponent's king with any series of legal moves (e.g. knight and king against a bare king). This position is drawn.
- Epaulette mateIn chess, epaulette mate refers to a checkmate position where the king is blocked on both sides by its own rooks.
- Fool's mateIn chess, Fool's mate refers to the shortest possible chess game ending in mate: 1.f3 e5 2.g4 Qh4# (or minor variations on this).
- Forced mateIn chess, forced mate refers to a sequence of two or more moves culminating in checkmate that the opponent cannot prevent.
- Insufficient materialIn chess, insufficient material refers to an endgame scenario in which all pawns have been captured, and one side has only its king remaining while the other has only its king, a king plus a knight, or a king plus a bishop. A king plus bishop versus a king plus bishop with the bishops on the same color is also a draw, since neither side can checkmate, regardless of play.
- KingIn chess, king refers to the most important piece in chess. It may move to any adjacent square, and it may castle. A king threatened with capture is in check; a player cannot end their move with their king in check. If a player's king is in check and there is no escape, then the king is in checkmate, and the player loses.
- King huntIn chess, king hunt refers to a sustained attack on the enemy king that results in the king being driven a far distance from its initial position, typically resulting in its checkmate. Some of the most famous games featuring king hunts are Edward Lasker–Thomas, Polugaevsky–Nezhmetdinov, and Kasparov–Topalov. Also called king chase.
- Major pieceIn chess, major piece refers to a queen or rook, also known as a heavy piece. The primary distinction of major pieces versus minor pieces is that major pieces are capable of checkmate with only their own king for support, as the enemy king is unable to step across the ranks and files they control.
- MateIn chess, mate refers to short for checkmate.
- Mating NetA setup where the king's escape squares are progressively controlled until mate cannot be avoided.
- ResignIn chess, resign means to concede loss of the game. A resignation is usually indicated by stopping the clocks, sometimes by offering a handshake, or by saying "I resign". A traditional way to resign is by tipping over one's king. It is common for a game to be resigned, rather than for it to end with checkmate, because experienced players can foresee the checkmate.
- Scholar's mateIn chess, Scholar's mate refers to a four-move checkmate (common among novices) in which White plays 1.e4, follows with Qh5 (or Qf3) and Bc4, and finishes with 4.Qxf7#.
- Sham sacrificeIn chess, sham sacrifice refers to an offer of material that is made at no risk, as acceptance would lead to the gain of equal or greater material or checkmate. This is in contrast to a true sacrifice in which the compensation is less tangible. Also called pseudo sacrifice.
- Smothered MateA knight checkmate where the enemy king is surrounded by its own pieces.
Strategy
44 terms
- AdvantageA position where one side has better chances because of material, activity, king safety, structure, or a concrete threat.
- Alekhine's GunA battery where the queen supports two rooks on the same file.
- AntipositionalIn chess, antipositional refers to a move or a plan that is not in accordance with the principles of positional play. Antipositional is used to describe moves that are part of an incorrect plan rather than a mistake made when trying to follow a correct plan.
- BatteryTwo or more pieces lined up on the same file, rank, or diagonal to increase pressure on a target.
- BindIn chess, bind refers to a strong grip or stranglehold on a position that is difficult for the opponent to break. A bind is usually an advantage in space created by advanced pawns. The Maróczy Bind is a well-known example.
- BlockadeStopping a pawn, usually a passed pawn, by placing a piece directly in front of it.
- Blocked positionIn chess, blocked position refers to a position where both sides are constrained from making progress, typically by interlocking pawn chain(s) dividing the available space into two camps.
- CalculateIn chess, calculate means to plan mentally a series of moves and consider possible responses, without actually moving the pieces.
- Closed PositionA position where pawn chains block lines, making maneuvering, pawn breaks, and knight outposts more important.
- CompensationNon-material benefits such as activity, attack, structure, or initiative that offset material loss.
- ConversionTurning an advantage into a win by reducing counterplay, improving pieces, and choosing reliable forcing lines.
- Decisive AdvantageA winning advantage with correct play. The job is no longer to be brilliant; it is to convert cleanly.
- Doubled RooksTwo rooks lined up on the same file or rank to multiply pressure.
- EdgeIn chess, edge refers to a small but meaningful advantage in the position against one's opponent. It is often said White has an edge in the starting position, since White moves first (see First-move advantage in chess). Compare initiative.
- HoleA weak square in the pawn structure that can be occupied by an enemy piece.
- ImbalanceA meaningful difference between the two sides, such as bishop pair vs knight pair, material vs activity, or king safety vs structure.
- InitiativeThe ability to make threats and force the opponent to react.
- Knight OutpostA strong outpost specifically for a knight, often in the center or near the enemy camp.
- Kotov syndromeKotov syndrome: This phenomenon, described by Alexander Kotov in his 1971 book Think Like a Grandmaster, can occur when a player does not find a good plan after thinking long and hard on a position. The player, under time pressure, then suddenly decides to make a move that they have hardly thought about at all, and it may not be a good move for that reason.
- MaterialismMaterialism: Playstyle characterized by a willingness to win material at the expense of positional considerations. Chess engines historically were often materialistic.
- Open FileA file with no pawns on it, usually ideal for rook activity.
- Open gameIn chess, open game refers to a game in which exchanges have opened files and diagonals, and there are few pawns in the center, as opposed to a closed game.
- Open PositionA position with few central pawns and many open lines, usually favoring bishops, rooks, and direct piece activity.
- OutpostA secure square protected by a pawn where enemy pawns cannot easily chase the piece away.
- OverprotectionIn chess, overprotection refers to the strategy of protecting an important pawn or square more than is apparently necessary. This serves to dissuade the opponent from attacking that point, and the latent power of the "over protectors" assembled around an important point is a significant threat that can bear fruit at a small tactical change in the position.
- Pattern recognitionIn chess, pattern recognition refers to a part of chess thinking that involves remembering and recognizing certain recurring positional aspects large and small, visual and dynamic. It is a kind of thinking that gives an advantage to a player with great experience. It is distinct from the intellectual activity of calculation.
- Poisoned pawnA poisoned pawn looks free but is dangerous to capture because taking it allows a tactic, attack, or long-term positional punishment.
- Positional playPositional play: Play based on strategy, on gaining and exploiting small advantages, and on analyzing the larger position, rather than calculating the more immediate tactics. Compare antipositional.
- Positional playerIn chess, positional player refers to a player who specializes in positional play, as distinguished from a tactician.
- ProphylaxisA move made mainly to prevent the opponent's plan or tactical idea.
- Queen and Bishop BatteryA queen and bishop lined up on a diagonal, often aiming at h7, h2, b1, or b8.
- Rook on Open FileA rook placed on an open file so it can pressure targets or invade.
- Semi-Open FileA file with no friendly pawns but at least one enemy pawn, useful for pressure.
- Seventh RankThe rank just before promotion from the opponent's side, often powerful for rooks.
- SimplificationTrading pieces to reduce complexity, often useful when ahead, under attack, or converting an advantage.
- SlowIn chess, slow refers to a term for a strategy that requires too many tempi to complete, allowing the opponent time to consolidate.
- SpaceIn chess, space refers to the squares controlled by each player. A player controlling more squares than the other is said to have a spatial advantage.
- Space AdvantageControl of more territory, giving your pieces more room and restricting the opponent.
- StrategyIn chess, strategy refers to the basis of a player's moves. The evaluation of positions and ways to achieve goals. Strategy is often contrasted with tactics, which are the calculations of more immediate plans and combinations.
- Stronger sideIn chess, stronger side refers to the side with a material or positional advantage.
- TacticianIn chess, tactician refers to a player who specializes in tactical play, as distinguished from a positional player.
- TacticsTactics: Combinations, traps, and threats. Play characterized by short-term attacks, requiring calculation by the players, as distinguished from positional play.
- ThematicThematic: Suited to the demands of the position. The term "thematic move" is often applied to the key move of a thematic plan.
- Weak SquareA square that can no longer be controlled by a pawn and can become a home for enemy pieces.
Defense
7 terms
- CounterplayActive chances for the side under pressure, usually by creating threats elsewhere.
- Defensive MoveA precise move that stops a threat, saves material, or holds the position.
- Drawing ResourceA practical idea that saves a worse position, such as perpetual check, stalemate tricks, fortress setups, or liquidation into a drawn endgame.
- EqualizingFinding a resource that turns a worse position into a balanced or drawable one.
- FortressA defensive setup the stronger side cannot break despite extra material.
- Perpetual CheckA drawing resource where one side can keep checking forever, and the opponent cannot escape without allowing the checks to continue.
- SwindleA practical save or turnaround from a bad position by creating problems the opponent can still mishandle.
Openings
76 terms
- Anti-SicilianAn Anti-Sicilian is any White system against the Sicilian Defense that avoids the main Open Sicilian structure. The practical idea is to steer the game into positions you understand better than your opponent.
- Book moveA book move is a known theoretical move from opening study. It is useful only if you also understand the plan it supports.
- BreakIn chess, break refers to a move that gains space and therefore freedom of movement, or the opening of a blocked position by the advance or capture of a pawn.
- BustIn chess, bust refers to a refutation of an opening, an opening line, a tactic, or a previously published analysis.
- Can openerIn chess, can opener refers to the plan of attacking a kingside position (sometimes a fianchettoed one) by advancing the h-pawn with the intention of opening a file near the defender's king.
- Center ControlControl of the central squares, especially d4, e4, d5, and e5, which gives pieces more scope and makes attacks easier to organize.
- Chess openingChess opening is another name for opening.
- Chess problemChess problem: Also called composition. A chess position created by the composer which presents the solver with a particular task; for example, "White mates in two" .
- Chess960Chess960 is a chess variant where the back-rank pieces start in one of 960 legal arrangements. Normal chess principles still matter, but opening memorization matters much less.
- Colors reversedColors reversed: Colours reversed. With colors reversed refers to opening moves by White normally played by Black, or vice versa. An example is the King's Indian Attack, where White's opening setup mirrors Black's setup in the King's Indian Defense. In such openings, White necessarily has an extra tempo compared to Black. Also called a reverse opening.
- ContinuationContinuation is another name for variation.
- CounterattackIn chess, counterattack refers to an attack that responds to an attack by the opponent in a way other than by direct defense.
- CountergambitCountergambit: Also "counter-gambit", "counter gambit". An opening gambit offered by Black. Some writers define the term more narrowly as an opening gambit offered by Black in response to an opening gambit by White such as the Albin Countergambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5) or the Falkbeer Countergambit (1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5).
- Country moveIn chess, country move refers to a disparaging term for a move considered unsophisticated, especially an unnecessary single-step advance of the rook's pawn in the opening. The term was popular in London in the late 19th century.
- DefenseIn chess, defense refers to a move or plan to meet the opponent's attack.
- DevelopmentBringing pieces from their starting squares into useful roles where they control central squares, defend, and create threats.
- Drawing lineIn chess, drawing line refers to an opening variation that commonly ends in a draw.
- Drawing weaponIn chess, drawing weapon refers to an opening line played with the intent of drawing the game.
- ECOIn chess, ECO refers to the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO), a standard and comprehensive chess opening reference. Also ECO code, a classification system for openings that assigns an alphanumeric code from A00 to E99 to each opening.
- EqualizeEqualize: Equalise. To reach a position where the players have equal chances of winning, referred to as equality, or a position that is equal. In the opening, because White has the advantage of the first move, the immediate goal for Black is to achieve equality.
- Exchange variationExchange variation: This is a type of opening in which there is an early, voluntary exchange of pawns or pieces.
- FianchettoDeveloping a bishop to b2, g2, b7, or g7 so it controls a long diagonal from behind a knight pawn.
- FischerandomIn chess, Fischerandom refers to the name given by Bobby Fischer for the variation of chess he invented. See Chess960.
- Flank openingIn chess, flank opening refers to an opening played by White and typified by play on one or both flanks.
- GambitAn opening idea where material is offered, usually a pawn, for development, open lines, or initiative.
- Indian DefenseIn chess, Indian Defense refers to an opening that begins 1.d4 Nf6. Originally used to describe queen's pawn defenses involving the fianchetto of one or both black bishops; now used to describe all Black defenses after 1.d4 Nf6 that do not transpose into the Queen's Gambit.
- Irregular openingIrregular opening: Early 19th-century chess literature classified all openings that did not begin with either 1.e4 e5 or 1.d4 d5 as "irregular". As opening theory developed and many openings previously considered "irregular" became standard (e.g. the Sicilian Defense), the term gradually became less common. Opening books today are more likely to describe debuts such as 1.
- Italian bishopIn chess, Italian bishop refers to a white bishop developed to c4 or a black bishop developed to c5. A bishop so developed is characteristic of the Italian Game. In the Giuoco Piano both players have Italian bishops. The Italian bishop stands in contrast to the Spanish bishop on b5 characteristic of the Ruy Lopez.
- KGAIn chess, KGA refers to the King's Gambit Accepted opening.
- KGDIn chess, KGD refers to the King's Gambit Declined opening.
- KIAIn chess, KIA refers to the King's Indian Attack opening.
- KIDIn chess, KID refers to the King's Indian Defense opening.
- King pawn openingKing pawn opening: King's pawn opening. An opening that begins 1.e4.
- LineIn chess, line refers to a sequence of moves, usually in the opening or in analyzing a position.
- Main lineA mainline is the most established or heavily analyzed continuation in an opening. Learn it as a guide to the position's main plans, not as a script to follow blindly.
- Maróczy BindIn chess, Maróczy Bind refers to a bind on the light squares in the center, particularly d5, obtained by White by placing pawns on c4 and e4. Named for Géza Maróczy, it originally referred to formations arising in some variations of the Sicilian Defense, but the name is now also applied to similar setups in the English Opening and the Queen's Indian Defense.
- MCOMCO: Modern Chess Openings, a popular chess opening reference. Often the edition is also given, as in MCO-14, the 14th edition. Compare ECO.
- MiddlegameIn chess, middlegame refers to the part of a chess game that follows the opening and comes before the endgame, beginning after the pieces are developed in the opening. This is usually roughly moves 20 through 40.
- Move orderIn chess, move order refers to the sequence of moves one chooses to play an opening or execute a plan. Different move orders often have different advantages and disadvantages. A plan that uses certain moves can sometimes be improved by making the identical moves but in a different sequence.
- OpeningThe first phase of the game, where you develop pieces, fight for the center, and make your king safe before launching deeper plans.
- Opening innovationIn chess, opening innovation refers to a synonym for theoretical novelty.
- Opening repertoireIn chess, opening repertoire refers to the set of openings played by a particular player. The breadth of different players' repertoires varies from very narrow to very broad.
- Opening systemIn chess, opening system refers to an opening that is defined by one player's moves and that can be played generally regardless of the moves of the opponent, with the goal of reaching a desired type of middlegame position. Sometimes several different move orders are possible. Examples include the Colle System and Hippopotamus Defense.
- Opening TrapA hidden tactical punishment in the opening, usually triggered by a natural-looking but careless move.
- Pawn centerPawn center: Pawn centre. A player's pawns in the center of the board. Pawns on the squares adjacent to the center may also be considered part of the pawn center. Having a strong pawn center was considered absolutely essential until the hypermodernist school introduced some new ideas. Often shortened to center.
- PlayablePlayable: Said of an opening, a position, or move that affords the person playing it a tenable position.
- Poisoned Pawn VariationIn chess, Poisoned Pawn Variation refers to any of several opening variations, the best-known of these being in the Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defense, in which there is a poisoned pawn.
- PreparationPreparation is another name for opening preparation.
- Prepared variationIn chess, prepared variation refers to a well-analyzed novelty in the opening that is not published but first used against an opponent in competitive play.
- QGAIn chess, QGA refers to the Queen's Gambit Accepted opening.
- QGDIn chess, QGD refers to the Queen's Gambit Declined opening.
- QIDIn chess, QID refers to the Queen's Indian Defense opening.
- Queen pawn openingQueen pawn opening: Queen's pawn opening. An opening that begins 1.d4.
- Rabar ClassificationIn chess, Rabar Classification refers to a system of opening classification codes introduced by Braslav Rabar for Chess Informant. The system was used by Informant publications from 1966 to 1981 but has since been replaced by ECO codes.
- RefuteIn chess, refute means to demonstrate that a strategy, move, or opening is not as good as previously thought (often, that it leads to a loss), or that previously published analysis is unsound. A refutation is sometimes colloquially referred to as a bust. A refutation in the context of chess problems or endgame studies is often called a cook.
- RepertoireThe set of openings and typical plans a player chooses to play regularly.
- Reverse openingReverse opening is another name for colors reversed.
- Semi-Closed GameIn chess, Semi-Closed Game refers to an opening that begins with White playing 1.d4 and Black replying with a move other than 1...d5. Also called half-closed game.
- Semi-Open GameIn chess, Semi-Open Game refers to an opening that begins with White playing 1.e4 and Black replying with a move other than 1...e5. Also called half-open game.
- SharpSharp: Highly tactical, risky, double-edged, few available accurate moves. Sharp can be used to describe moves, maneuvers, positions, opening lines, and styles of play.
- SolidIn chess, solid refers to an adjective used to describe a move, opening, or manner of play that is characterized by minimal risk-taking and emphasis on quiet positional play rather than wild tactics.
- SortieIn chess, sortie refers to a queen development in front of its own pawns, often early in the opening, usually for the purpose of exploiting an advantage in space or punishing an error by the opponent. So called because the queen is usually developed behind its own pawns for its protection.
- SoundIn chess, sound refers to a correct move or plan. A sound sacrifice has sufficient compensation, a sound opening or variation has no known refutation, and a sound puzzle or composition has no known cooks. Opposite: unsound.
- Spanish bishopIn chess, Spanish bishop refers to a white king bishop developed to b5. This is characteristic of the Ruy Lopez, also known as the Spanish Opening.
- Stem gameA stem game is the chess game featuring the first use of a particular opening variation. Sometimes, the player or the venue of the stem game is then used to refer to that opening.
- StrongpointIn chess, strongpoint refers to a "strongpoint defense" means an opening that defends and retains a central pawn (White: e4 or d4; Black: e5 or d5), as opposed to exchanging the pawn and relinquishing occupation of that central square.
- SymmetryIn chess, symmetry refers to a symmetrical position on the chessboard means the positions of one's pieces are exactly mirrored by the opponent's pieces. This most often occurs when Black mimics White's opening moves. Black is said to break symmetry when making a move that no longer imitates White's move.
- SystemSystem is another name for opening system.
- Theoretical novelty ("TN" or "N")Theoretical novelty ("TN" or "N"): Simply novelty. A move in the opening that has not been played before.
- TheoryTheory is another name for book move.
- TranspositionReaching the same position through a different move order.
- Unorthodox openingUnorthodox opening is another name for irregular opening.
- VariationIn chess, variation refers to a sequence of moves or an alternative line of play, often applied to the opening. A variation does not have to have been played in a game; it may also be a possibility that occurs only in analysis. Also called continuation.
- Wing GambitIn chess, Wing Gambit refers to the name given to variations of several openings in which one player gambits a wing pawn, usually the b-pawn.
- Winning positionIn chess, winning position refers to a position is said to be a winning one if one specified side, with correct play, can eventually force a checkmate against any defense (i.e. perfect defense). Also called won game.
- X-rayX-ray: When the power of a piece, either to attack or to defend, seems to pass through an intervening enemy piece. An X-ray attack, also known as a skewer, occurs when two pieces of the same color are caught in the same line of attack along a diagonal, rank, or file.
Pawn Play
29 terms
- Advanced PawnA pawn deep in the opponent's half that gains space, restricts pieces, or threatens promotion.
- Backward PawnA pawn behind neighboring pawns that cannot safely advance or be defended by another pawn.
- BreakthroughA pawn push or tactical idea that tears open a blocked structure or creates a passed pawn.
- CentipawnIn chess, centipawn refers to a unit of evaluation used by chess engines, e.g. an evaluation of +1.32 is worth 20 centipawns more than an evaluation of +1.12. Historically a centipawn corresponded to a material value of 0.01 of a pawn; however, the strongest modern engines no longer rate pawns as worth 1.
- Central pawnCentral pawn is another name for center pawn.
- Connected pawnsIn chess, connected pawns refers to two or more pawns of the same color on adjacent files. Compare isolated pawns.
- Doubled PawnsTwo same-color pawns on the same file.
- En PassantA special pawn capture against a pawn that just advanced two squares past an attacking pawn.
- HarryIn chess, Harry refers to a nickname for the h-pawn, sometimes occurring in the expression, "Harry the h-pawn".
- Isolated PawnA pawn with no friendly pawns on adjacent files.
- MajorityIn chess, majority refers to a larger number of pawns on one flank opposed by a smaller number of the opponent's; often a player with a majority on one flank has a minority on the other. A central pawn majority is a larger number of pawns on the center files.
- MinorityIn chess, minority refers to a smaller number of pawns on one flank opposed by a larger number of the opponent's; often a player with a minority on one flank has a majority on the other.
- Mobile pawn centerMobile pawn center: Pawns on central squares able to advance without becoming weak.
- Outside Passed PawnA passed pawn far from the main pawn mass that can distract the enemy king.
- Passed PawnA pawn with no enemy pawns ahead of it on its file or adjacent files.
- PasserIn chess, passer refers to a passed pawn.
- Pawn BreakA pawn advance used to challenge or open a pawn structure.
- Pawn ChainA diagonal chain of pawns protecting each other.
- Pawn majorityPawn majority is another name for majority.
- Pawn minorityPawn minority is another name for minority.
- Pawn skeletonPawn skeleton is another name for pawn structure.
- Pawn StormAdvancing multiple pawns toward the enemy king to open lines or weaken the pawn shield.
- Pawn StructureThe shape of the pawns, which defines weak squares, plans, and long-term strengths.
- PriyomeIn chess, priyome refers to a Russian term for particular tactics that depend on pawn structure.
- PromotionWhen a pawn reaches the last rank and becomes a queen, rook, bishop, or knight.
- Protected Passed PawnA passed pawn defended by another pawn.
- PushIn chess, push means to move a pawn forward.
- UnderpromotionPromoting to a rook, bishop, or knight instead of a queen because the lesser piece is best.
- Weak PawnA pawn that is hard to defend and easy for the opponent to attack.
Pieces & Activity
89 terms
- ActiveAn active piece is doing useful work: it controls important squares, attacks targets, or supports a plan. When a piece is active, it makes your threats easier to create and your opponent's defense harder.
- Active PieceA piece that controls useful squares, creates threats, or supports an important plan.
- Bad BishopA bishop blocked by its own pawns, often stuck defending weaknesses instead of creating pressure.
- Bare kingIn chess, bare king refers to a position in which a king is the only man of its color on the board.
- Big pawnIn chess, big pawn refers to a bad bishop stuck behind its own pawns and defending them—effectively doing the work of a pawn.
- BishopIn chess, bishop refers to a piece that may move along diagonals without jumping.
- Bishop PairOwning both bishops, often strong in open positions because they control both color complexes from long range.
- Bishop pawnBishop pawn: Bishop's pawn. A pawn on the bishop's file, i.e. the c-file or f-file. Sometimes abbreviated "BP".
- Building a bridgeBuilding a bridge: Making a path for a king in the endgame by providing protective cover against checks from line pieces. A well-known example is the Lucena position.
- CenterCenter: Centre. The four squares in the middle of the board. Sometimes short for pawn center. A king "in the center" can refer to an uncastled king on a center file.
- Center fileCenter file: Centre file. The king's file (e-file) or queen's file (d-file).
- Center pawnCenter pawn: Centre pawn. A pawn on the king's file (e-file) or queen's file (d-file).
- CentralizationCentralization: Moving a piece or pieces toward the center of the board, where they will not only control the center, but also extend their influence to other areas. Pieces are best placed near the center of the board, because they increase their power and maneuverability. Knights in particular benefit from being centralized. Opposite: decentralization.
- Closed fileIn chess, closed file refers to a file containing pawns from both sides, which limits rook activity along that file.
- Closed gameClosed game: Close game. A closed game has few open lines (files or diagonals). It is generally characterized by interlocking pawn chains, cramped positions with few opportunities to exchange, and extensive maneuvering behind lines. Such a game may evolve and later become an open game.
- ColorboundColorbound: Colourbound. The property of a piece to access only squares of one color. In standard chess, each bishop is colorbound to either the white or black squares.
- ControlControl: When a player's pawn, piece or pieces guard a square, or squares, or a file, or a rank in such a way that the territory can be advantageously used; and the opponent is prevented from using the territory. Also, the player who has the initiative has control.
- CoordinationHow well your pieces work together toward the same targets or squares.
- Corresponding squaresCorresponding squares are pairs of squares such that when a king moves to one square, it forces the opponent's king to occupy the other square in order to hold the position. Corresponding squares usually occur in pawn endgames. The theory of corresponding squares has developed to include complex calculations based on math-like formulas.
- CoverIn chess, cover means to protect a piece or control a square.
- Cross-checkA cross-check is a check played in reply to a check, especially when the original check is blocked by a piece that itself either delivers check or reveals a discovered check from another piece.
- Dark-square bishopDark-square bishop: Often shortened to dark bishop or abbreviated DSB. One of the two bishops that moves only on the dark squares. In the starting position, White's dark-square bishop is on c1; Black's is on f8. Compare light-square bishop.
- DiagonalIn chess, diagonal refers to a line of squares of the same color touching corner to corner, along which a queen or bishop moves.
- DominationDomination: From endgame studies, control of all movement squares of an enemy piece.
- Double fianchettoIn chess, double fianchetto refers to a player's king bishop and queen bishop have both been fianchettoed.
- EatIn chess, eat means to remove the opponent's piece or pawn from the board by taking it with one's own piece or pawn. Synonym: capture.
- En priseEn prise describes a piece or pawn exposed to a material-winning capture by the opponent. This is either a hanging piece, an undefended pawn, a piece attacked by a less valuable attacker, or a piece or pawn defended insufficiently. For instance, 1.e4 Nf6 2.Nf3? leaves White's e-pawn en prise.
- FrameIn chess, frame refers to a square region of the board enclosing another region not part of the given frame, akin to a picture frame. Also referred to as a ring. The outer frame consists of the 28 squares along the edge of the board, the middle frame consists of the 20 squares just inside the outer frame, and the inner frame consists of the 12 squares just inside the middle frame.
- Good BishopA bishop with useful diagonals, usually not trapped behind its own pawns.
- HangingHanging: Unprotected and exposed to capture. A hanging piece may also be said to be en prise.
- HarmonyA position where pieces support each other without blocking each other's best squares or lines.
- Heavy pieceHeavy piece is another name for major piece.
- Indian bishopIn chess, Indian bishop refers to a fianchettoed bishop, characteristic of the Indian defenses, the King's Indian and the Queen's Indian.
- IQPIn chess, IQP refers to an abbreviation for isolated queen pawn. See isolani.
- IsolaniIn chess, isolani refers to another name for an isolated queen's pawn.
- Isolated queen pawn (IQP)Isolated queen pawn (IQP): Isolated queen's pawn.
- KickKick: Attacking a piece, often a knight, with a pawn, so that it will move. Kicking a piece may lead to gaining a tempo, or may force the opponent to concede control of key squares.
- King bishopKing bishop: King's bishop. The bishop that is on the kingside at the start of the game. Sometimes abbreviated "KB".
- King knightKing knight: King's knight. The knight that is on the kingside at the start of the game. Sometimes abbreviated "KN".
- King pawnKing pawn: King's pawn. A pawn on the king's file, i.e. the e-file. Sometimes abbreviated "KP". Also king bishop pawn (KBP), king knight pawn (KNP), and king rook pawn (KRP) for a pawn on the f-, g-, or h-file, respectively.
- King rookKing rook: King's rook. The rook that is on the kingside at the start of the game. Sometimes abbreviated "KR".
- King walkIn chess, king walk refers to a consecutive series of king moves designed to bring the king to a safer square. For example, if a player has castled kingside but the opponent has sacrificed a piece to destroy the kingside pawn cover, they may choose to walk the king over to the queenside to shelter behind the queenside pawns.
- KingsideKingside: King's side. The side of the board (half-board) the kings are on at the start of the game (the e- through h- file), as opposed to the queenside. Also called king's wing.
- KnightIn chess, knight refers to a piece that may move to any nearest square not on a rank, file, or diagonal on which it stands. In other words, it may move two squares horizontally or vertically and then one square perpendicular to that (forming an L shape), jumping over any pieces in the way.
- Knight pawnKnight pawn: Knight's pawn. A pawn on the knight's file, i.e. the b-file or g-file. Sometimes abbreviated "NP".
- Knight vs BishopAn imbalance where one side's knight fights the other side's bishop. The better piece depends on pawn structure and open lines.
- Knight's tourIn chess, knight's tour refers to a puzzle that challenges a person to set a knight on an empty chessboard, and make the piece move around (as it moves in a chess game), but to visit every square only once. The knight's tour is the best known of a variety of tours and puzzles based on chess pieces.
- Light-square bishopLight-square bishop: Often shortened to light bishop. One of the two bishops that moves only on the light squares. In the starting position, White's light-square bishop is on f1; Black's is on c8. Compare dark-square bishop.
- Line pieceIn chess, line piece refers to a piece whose movement is defined to be along straight lines of squares (i.e. the rook, bishop, and queen).
- Long DiagonalA diagonal running from corner to corner or near-corner to near-corner, often controlled by a fianchetto bishop.
- Long fianchettoIn chess, long fianchetto refers to a fianchetto whereby the knight's pawn has advanced two squares (b4 or g4 for White; b5 or g5 for Black) instead of one.
- Long-range pieceIn chess, long-range piece refers to a bishop, rook, or queen.
- ManIn chess, man refers to a piece or a pawn, when the term "piece" is used as exclusive of pawns.
- MaterialIn chess, material refers to a player's pieces and pawns on the board. The player with pieces and pawns of total greater value is said to have a material advantage. Gaining a material advantage is called winning material. See Chess piece relative value.
- MiniatureIn chess, miniature refers to a short game (usually no more than 20 to 25 moves), for example: 1.e3 e5 2.Qf3 d5 3.Nc3 e4 4.Qf4?? Bd6! and White resigned in Spiel–Künzel, Europe 1900, because the queen is trapped. However, some authors include games up to 30 moves. Usually only decisive games (not draws) are considered miniatures.
- Minor exchangeIn chess, minor exchange refers to the exchange of a bishop for a knight.
- Minor PieceA bishop or knight. Their value depends heavily on pawn structure, open lines, and available squares.
- MobilityIn chess, mobility refers to the ability of a piece(s) to move around the board. Having space.
- Mysterious rook moveMysterious rook move: Coined by Nimzowitsch to refer to the placing of a rook on a closed file in anticipation that the opponent is going to open the file. This move may either achieve a position with a rook on an open file, or it may alternatively hinder the opponent's intentions (prophylaxis).
- OccupationOccupation of a rank or file means a rook or queen controls it; occupation of a square means a piece or pawn sits on it.
- OctopusIn chess, octopus refers to a strongly positioned knight in enemy territory. A knight not near the edge reaches out in eight directions, like the eight tentacles of an octopus.
- Opposite-Colored BishopsEach side has a bishop on opposite color complexes. Endgames are often drawish, but middlegames can make attacks stronger.
- OverloadedIn chess, overloaded refers to a piece that has too many defensive duties. An overloaded piece can sometimes be deflected, or required to abandon one of its defensive duties.
- Paired bishopsPaired bishops is another name for bishop pair.
- Passive PieceA piece that is blocked, defensive, or disconnected from the main battle.
- Pawn and moveIn chess, pawn and move refers to a type of odds game, common in the 18th and 19th centuries, in which the superior player plays Black and begins the game with one of their pawns, usually the king bishop pawn, removed from the board; plus White gets an extra move at the start.
- Piece ActivityHow much useful work a piece is doing: controlling squares, attacking targets, defending key points, or joining a plan.
- ProtectionIn chess, protection refers to a piece is protected when another friendly piece controls its square. This somewhat protects the first piece from capture, as there is the option to recapture. This is especially effective if the attacking piece is of greater value than the threatened piece.
- QueenIn chess, queen refers to a piece that may move along ranks, files, and diagonals without jumping.
- Queen bishopQueen bishop: Queen's bishop. The bishop that is on the queenside at the start of the game. Sometimes abbreviated "QB".
- Queen knightQueen knight: Queen's knight. The knight that is on the queenside at the start of the game. Sometimes abbreviated "QN".
- Queen pawnQueen pawn: Queen's pawn. A pawn on the queen's file, i.e. the d-file. Sometimes abbreviated "QP". Also queen rook pawn (QRP), queen knight pawn (QNP), and queen bishop pawn (QBP) for a pawn on the a-, b-, or c-file, respectively.
- Queen rookQueen rook: Queen's rook. The rook that is on the queenside at the start of the game. Sometimes abbreviated "QR".
- QueensideQueenside: Queen's side. The side of the board (board-half) the queens are on at the start of the game (the a- through d- file), as opposed to the kingside. Also called queen's wing.
- RecaptureIn chess, recapture refers to the capture of an opponent's piece that previously made a capture, and usually played immediately following the opponent's capture move. The capture and recapture occur on the same square, and usually the pieces captured and recaptured have the same value.
- RookIn chess, rook refers to a piece that may move along ranks and files without jumping.
- Rook LiftA rook maneuver up the board, often to the third or fourth rank, so it can swing across into an attack.
- Rook pawnRook pawn: Rook's pawn. A pawn on the rook's file, i.e. the a-file or h-file. Sometimes abbreviated "RP".
- Royal pieceIn chess, royal piece refers to a king or queen. In chess variants, the term refers to any piece that must be protected from capture; under this definition, only the king is royal in orthodox chess.
- Starting squareIn chess, starting square refers to a piece 's starting square is the square it occupies at the beginning of the game.
- Strong squareIn chess, strong square refers to a square on a player's 4th or greater rank on which the player can post a piece that cannot or will not be driven away by enemy pawns. Compare weak square.
- Support pointIn chess, support point refers to a square that cannot be attacked by a pawn, and that can be occupied as a home base for a piece, usually a knight.
- SwapSwap is another name for exchange.
- Tall pawnIn chess, tall pawn refers to an ineffective bishop, usually a bad bishop hemmed in by its own pawns.
- TensionIn chess, tension refers to a position in which one or more exchanges are possible, such as a pair of pawns facing each other on a diagonal where either can capture the other, is said to contain tension. Such a situation differs from a threat in that it does not need to be immediately resolved – for example, if both pawns are defended.
- TradeIn chess, trade refers to an exchange of pieces or pawns, usually by mutual capture.
- Two bishopsThe two bishops. A synonym for bishop pair.
- WoodIn chess, wood refers to slang for pieces. "A lot of wood came off the board" conveys that several piece exchanges occurred.
- Wrong bishopWrong bishop: Wrong-colored bishop. A bishop that, because of the color squares it is restricted to, suffers critical loss of utility in the game position.
Endgames
23 terms
- Book winA book win is a known theoretical winning position. You still need the correct technique, but the result is established with best play.
- Connected passed pawnsIn chess, connected passed pawns refers to two passed pawns on adjacent files that support each other and are often very dangerous in the endgame.
- EndgameThe phase with fewer pieces where king activity, pawn promotion, and technique matter most.
- Endgame tablebaseIn chess, endgame tablebase refers to a computerized database of endgames with a small number of pieces, providing perfect play for both players, and thus completely solving those endgames. As of 2012, tablebases have been calculated for all positions with up to seven pieces.
- Key SquaresSquares a king must reach to force a pawn through or stop the opponent's pawn.
- King ActivityUsing the king as an active fighting piece, especially in simplified positions.
- Lucena PositionA standard winning rook ending where the stronger side builds a bridge to escape checks.
- OppositionA king-versus-king relationship where the player not to move has the useful setup.
- Pawn EndgameAn endgame with only kings and pawns, where opposition, pawn races, and promotion decide the result.
- Pawn RaceA race where both sides try to promote pawns, often decided by tempo, checks after promotion, or king position.
- Philidor PositionA standard drawing method in rook endings based on holding the third rank and checking from distance.
- Queen EndgameAn endgame with queens and pawns, where checks, king safety, and perpetual check resources are central.
- Rook Behind Passed PawnA key rook-endgame rule: rooks usually belong behind passed pawns, supporting your pawn or attacking the opponent's pawn from behind.
- Rook EndgameAn endgame with rooks and pawns, where activity and checking distance are critical.
- SqueezeSqueeze: Making pawn moves that limit mobility, freedom and options for the opponent, typically causing a zugzwang.
- StalemateA drawn position where the side to move has no legal move and is not in check.
- TablebaseA database of perfect play for simplified endgames with a limited number of pieces.
- The Square RuleA counting shortcut that shows whether a king can catch a passed pawn before it promotes.
- TrébuchetIn chess, trébuchet refers to a theoretical position of mutual zugzwang in which either player would lose if it were their turn to move.
- TriangulationA king maneuver that loses a tempo to put the opponent to move in a worse version of the position.
- Waiting moveIn chess, waiting move refers to a move whose sole purpose is to oblige the opponent to move. A waiting move is effective when the opponent has nothing but bad moves available (i.e. is in zugzwang).
- Wrong Rook PawnA rook pawn that cannot queen successfully because the bishop does not control the promotion square, often making the ending drawn.
- ZugzwangA position where every legal move makes the side to move worse.
Time Controls
38 terms
- AdjournmentAdjournment is when a game is paused and resumed later from the same position. It matters mostly for understanding older tournament games, because modern engine access made adjournments mostly obsolete.
- Armageddon gameIn chess, Armageddon game refers to a game that is guaranteed to produce a decisive result, because if there is a draw it is ruled a victory for Black. In compensation for this White is given more time on the clock. Often White is given five minutes, and Black four. This format is typically used in playoff tiebreakers when shorter blitz games have not resolved the tie.
- Blitz chessBlitz is a fast time control where each player has only a few minutes for the whole game. The chess skill is still calculation, but practical speed, pattern recognition, and clock handling become much more important.
- Bronstein delayIn chess, Bronstein delay refers to a time control method with time delay, invented by David Bronstein. When it becomes a player's turn to move, the clock waits for the delay period before starting to subtract from the player's remaining time.
- Bullet chessBullet is an extremely fast time control, usually around one minute per player. It rewards instant pattern recognition and mouse speed, but it is less reliable for deep learning than slower games.
- Chess clockChess clock refers to a device made up of two adjacent clocks and buttons, keeping track of the total time each player takes for their moves. Immediately after moving, the player presses their button, which simultaneously stops their clock and starts their opponent's. The picture shown displays an analogue clock from which the term flag fall originates. Modern clocks are digital.
- ClassicalIn chess, classical refers to an opening system geared towards forming a full pawn center. Classical ideas were challenged by hypermodern ideas.
- Classical bishop sacrificeClassical bishop sacrifice is another name for Greek gift sacrifice.
- Clock moveClock move: In a game played clock move, a move is considered completed only after the clock is pressed. For example, one could touch a piece, then move a different piece—as long as the player has not pressed their clock button. This way of playing is uncommon but can be seen in casual games or blitz games.
- CoffeehouseCoffeehouse: Adjective used to describe a move, player, or style of play characterized by risky, positionally dubious play that sets traps for the opponent. The name comes from the notion that one would expect to see such play in skittles games played in a coffeehouse or similar setting, particularly in games played for stakes or blitz chess.
- Correspondence chessCorrespondence chess: Chess played at a long time control by long-distance correspondence. Traditionally correspondence chess was played though the post; today it is usually played over a correspondence chess server or by email. Typically, one move is transmitted in every correspondence.
- Dirty flagIn chess, dirty flag refers to a scenario in which a player having a losing position on the board wins by virtue of the opponent exceeding the time control. It typically occurs in faster formats, such as blitz or bullet, where a player prioritizes making rapid (often sub-optimal) moves to exhaust the opponent's remaining seconds rather than seeking a tactical or positional advantage.
- DynamismIn chess, dynamism refers to a style of play in which the activity of the pieces is favored over more positional considerations, even to the point of accepting permanent structural or spatial weaknesses.
- Fast chessFast chess refers to a form of chess in which both sides are given less time to make their moves than under the normal tournament time controls.
- Fischer delayIn chess, Fischer delay refers to a time control method with time delay, invented by Bobby Fischer. When it becomes a player's turn to move, the delay is added to the player's remaining time.
- Five-minute chessFive-minute chess is another name for blitz chess.
- FlagFlag: Part of an analogue chess clock, usually red, that indicates when the minute hand passes the hour. To "flag" someone means winning the game on the basis of the opponent exceeding the time control.
- Flag-fallIn chess, flag-fall refers to the event when the allotted time of a player has just expired; the player has run out of time.
- ForfeitForfeit: Losing the game by breaking rules, by absence or by exceeding the time control (forfeit on time).
- Friendly gameIn chess, friendly game refers to a game that is not played as part of a match, tournament, or exhibition. Often the game is not timed, but if a chess clock is used, rapid time controls are common. The term refers only to the circumstances in which the game is played, not the relationship between the players or the intensity of the competition. Also called casual game and informal game.
- Greek gift sacrificeIn chess, Greek gift sacrifice refers to a typical sacrifice of a bishop by White playing Bxh7+ or by Black playing...Bxh2+ against a castled king to initiate a mating attack. Also known as the classical bishop sacrifice.
- HypermodernismIn chess, hypermodernism refers to a school of thought that prefers controlling the center with pieces from the flanks as opposed to occupying it directly with pawns. Two major proponents of hypermodernism were Richard Réti and Aron Nimzowitsch.
- IncrementIn chess, increment refers to the amount of time added to each player's time before each move. For instance, rapid chess might be played with "25 minutes plus 10 second per move increment", meaning that each player starts with 25 minutes on their clock, and this increments by 10 seconds after (or before) each move, usually using the Fischer Delay method.
- Lightning chessLightning chess refers to a form of chess with an extremely short time limit, either blitz chess or bullet chess.
- LossIn chess, loss refers to a defeat for one of the two players, which may occur due to that player being checkmated by the other player, resigning, exceeding the time control, or being forfeited by the tournament director. In chess, a zero-sum game, this results in a win for the other player.
- NormIn chess, norm refers to a step toward earning a chess title, such as Grandmaster or International Master. To qualify for the award of norms, a tournament must be rated by FIDE, must be sufficiently strong, must include a mix of nationalities, must include a specified number of titled players, and must meet certain other requirements regarding time control and playing conditions.
- Optimal playOptimal play is another name for Best response. Both sides playing their best move at each turn, or one of equally good alternatives. One side tries to win as quickly as possible while the other side tries to delay it as long as possible, or optimal play may result in a draw. Compare Solved game#Perfect play.
- PremovePremove: In online chess, a move input that is made during the opponent's turn, to take effect only after the opponent has moved. Premoving, the act of making premoves, is a popular way of saving time in blitz and bullet formats.
- Rapid chessRapid chess is faster than classical chess but slower than blitz. It gives enough time for real calculation while still requiring practical time management.
- Speed chessSpeed chess is another name for blitz chess.
- Spite checkIn chess, spite check refers to a harmless check given by a player who is about to lose the game, that serves no purpose other than to momentarily delay the defeat.
- Sudden deathIn chess, sudden death refers to the most straightforward time control for a chess game: each player has a fixed amount of time available to make all moves.
- TCIn chess, TC refers to an abbreviation for time control.
- Time controlIn chess, time control refers to the allowed time to play a game, usually measured by a chess clock. A time control can require either a certain number of moves be made per time period (e.g. 40 moves in 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 hours) or it can limit the length of the entire game (e.g. five minutes per game for blitz).
- Time delayIn chess, time delay refers to a time control that makes it possible for a player to avoid having an ever-decreasing amount of time remaining (as is the case with sudden death). The most important time delays in chess are Bronstein delay and Fischer delay.
- Time pressureTime pressure: Time trouble. Having very little time on one's clock (especially less than five minutes) to complete one's remaining moves. Also called zeitnot.
- WinIn chess, win refers to a victory for one of the two players in a game, which may occur due to checkmate, resignation by the other player, the other player exceeding the time control, or the other player being forfeited by the tournament director. Chess being a zero-sum game, this results in a loss for the other player. In a tournament a bye may be scored as a win.
- ZeitnotZeitnot means severe time trouble. In zeitnot, simplify decisions: check forcing moves, avoid unnecessary complications, and make useful moves quickly.
Tournament Play
53 terms
- AdjudicationIn chess, adjudication refers to a way to decide the result of an unfinished game. A tournament director, or an impartial and strong player, will evaluate the final position and assign a win, draw, or loss assuming best play by both players.
- ArbiterAn arbiter is the tournament official who enforces rules, handles disputes, manages clocks or results, and keeps the event fair.
- ArenaIn chess, arena refers to a type of tournament without a fixed amount of rounds.
- Brilliancy prizeIn chess, brilliancy prize refers to a prize awarded at some tournaments for the best brilliancy played in the tournament.
- ByeIn chess, bye refers to a tournament round in which a player does not have a game, usually because there are an odd number of players. A bye is normally scored as a win (1 point), although in some tournaments a player is permitted to choose to take a bye (usually in the first or last round) and score it as a draw (½ point).
- Candidate Master (CM)Candidate Master is a chess title awarded by FIDE. It signals a strong competitive level, below FIDE Master, International Master, and Grandmaster.
- Candidates MatchIn chess, Candidates Match refers to a knockout match in the Candidates Tournament.
- Candidates TournamentIn chess, Candidates Tournament refers to a tournament organized by the FIDE, the third and last qualifying cycle of the World Chess Championship. The participants are the top players of the Interzonal tournament plus possibly other players selected on the basis of rating or performance in the previous candidates tournament. The top ranking player(s) qualify(ies) for the world championship.
- CategoryThe category of a tournament is a measure of its strength based on the average FIDE rating of the participants. The category is calculated by rounding up the number: (average rating − 2250) ÷ 25. So each category covers a 25-point rating range, starting with Category 1 which spans ratings between 2251 and 2275.
- Clock timeClock time: Time (consumed or remaining) on the chess clock, in a tournament game.
- Closed tournamentIn chess, closed tournament refers to a tournament in which only invited or qualifying players may participate. Also called invitational tournament. Compare open tournament.
- CMIn chess, CM refers to an abbreviation for Candidate Master.
- CrosstableIn chess, crosstable refers to an arrangement of the results of every game in a tournament in tabular form. The names of the players run down the left side of the table in numbered rows. The names may be listed in order of results, alphabetically, or in pairing order, but results order is most common.
- Draw oddsIn chess, draw odds refers to a type of chess handicap where one player (Black in an Armageddon game) has only to draw in order to win the match.
- Elo rating systemThe Elo rating system estimates player strength by updating ratings after games based on result and opponent strength. Treat it as a useful competitive signal, not a complete description of how well someone understands chess.
- ExhibitionExhibition: Chess games played for the public in various formats and for various purposes, often to promote the game, or a particular match or player, or as a fundraiser. An exhibition may pit two masters against each other, and normally use chess clocks. In a simultaneous exhibition, one player takes on a number of opponents at once, and it is often not timed.
- FIDE ratingFIDE rating is another name for Elo rating system.
- FOAIn chess, FOA refers to an abbreviation for the FIDE Online Arena.
- Game scoreGame score: Often shortened to score. The record of a game in some form of notation, usually algebraic notation. In over-the-board tournaments, the game score is recorded on a score sheet.
- HauptturnierHauptturnier: German word that is freely translated as "candidates tournament". In the early part of the 20th century, it was necessary for the ambitious European amateur to win a succession of prizes in small tournaments, to progress to a higher level of competition.
- IAIn chess, IA refers to an abbreviation for International Arbiter.
- International Arbiter (IA)In chess, International Arbiter (IA) refers to a tournament official who arbitrates disputes and performs other duties such as keeping the score when players are under time pressure.
- Interzonal tournamentIn chess, Interzonal tournament refers to a tournament organized by the FIDE starting from the 1950s to 1993. It was the second qualifying cycle of the World Chess Championship. The participants were selected from the top players of the Zonal tournaments. The top-ranking players qualified for the Candidates Tournament.
- Knockout tournamentKnockout tournament is another name for Single-elimination tournament. A tournament conducted as a series of matches in which the winner of each match advances to the next round and the loser is eliminated. Well-known chess tournaments held in the knockout format include London 1851 and the 2007 Chess World Cup. Compare round-robin tournament and Swiss tournament.
- MasterMaster: Loosely, a strong chess player who would be expected to beat most amateurs. It may also refer to a formal title such as International Master or National Master. Standards vary, but a master will usually have an Elo rating of over 2200.
- MatchIn chess, match refers to the term "match" does not refer to an individual game of chess, but to either a competition between two teams or a series of games between two individuals. A match may be the entire competition, or it may be a round in a knockout tournament or team tournament.
- OlympiadIn chess, Olympiad refers to an international team chess tournament organized biennially by FIDE. Each team represents a FIDE member country.
- Open tournamentIn chess, open tournament refers to a tournament where anyone can enter, regardless of rating or invitation. Compare closed tournament.
- Opening preparationOpening preparation: Home study and analysis of openings and defenses that one expects to play, or meet, in later tournament or match games. In high-level play, an important part of this is the search for theoretical novelties that improve upon previous play or previously published analysis.
- PairingIn chess, pairing refers to the assignment of opponents in a tournament. The most common pairing methods used in chess tournaments are round-robin and the Swiss system.
- Performance rating (PR)In chess, performance rating (PR) refers to a number reflecting the approximate rating level at which a player performed in a particular tournament or match. It is often calculated by adding together the player's performances in each individual game, using the opponent's rating for a draw, adding 400 points to the opponent's rating for a win, and subtracting 400 points from the opp...
- PRIn chess, PR refers to an abbreviation for performance rating.
- QuadIn chess, quad refers to a round-robin style tournament between four players, where each participant plays every other participant once.
- RatingRating is another name for Elo rating system.
- Resign on timeIn chess, resign on time refers to a player who intentionally runs out of time to avoid having to resign in a hopeless position can be said to have resigned on time. This is usually performed in a more subtle manner than that of Curt von Bardeleben walking out of the tournament hall against Wilhelm Steinitz.
- Round-robin tournamentRound-robin tournament: This is a tournament in which each participant plays every other participant an equal number of times. In a double round-robin tournament the participants play each other exactly twice, once with white and once with black. A round robin tournament is commonly used if the number of participants is relatively small.
- ScoreIn chess, score refers to the recorded moves in a game. See game score.
- Score sheetA score sheet is where tournament players record the moves of a game. Accurate notation makes later review and dispute resolution possible.
- Sealed moveIn chess, sealed move means to prevent unfair advantage when an OTB game is adjourned, the player whose turn it is to move is required to write down their next move and put it in a sealed envelope. Upon resumption, the arbiter opens the sealed envelope, makes the move and the game continues. The player may be disqualified if the sealed move is illegal, ambiguous or unclear.
- SecondIn chess, second refers to an assistant hired to help a player in preparation for and during a major match or tournament. The second assists in areas such as opening preparation. The second also used to assist with adjournment analysis before the practice of adjournments was largely abandoned in the 1990s.
- Sofia rulesSofia rules: In the tournament played by Sofia rules, players are not allowed to draw by agreement. They could have draws by stalemate, threefold repetition, fifty-move rule, or insufficient material. Other draws are allowed only if the arbiter declares the game reached a drawn position.
- StrongIn chess, strong refers to an effective and well-placed piece or pawn; a potential outpost; a forceful or good move; a position having good winning chances; a highly rated player or one successful in tournaments; or a tournament having a sizable number of strong players competing, such as grandmasters. A "strong showing" refers to a player's high win ratio in a tournament.
- Swiss tournamentIn chess, Swiss tournament refers to a system used in tournaments to determine pairings. In every round each player is paired with an opponent with the same or similar score.
- TDIn chess, TD refers to an abbreviation for tournament director.
- Theme tournamentIn chess, theme tournament refers to a chess tournament in which every game must begin with a particular opening specified by the organizers, for example the Budapest Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5).
- TiebreaksTiebreaks is another name for Tie-breaking in Swiss-system tournaments. This refers to a number of different systems that are used to break ties, and thus designate a single winner, where multiple players or teams tie for the same place in a Swiss system chess tournament.
- TournamentIn chess, tournament refers to a competition involving more than two players or teams, generally played at a single venue (or series of venues) in a relatively short period of time. A tournament is divided into rounds, with each round consisting either of individual games or matches in the case of knockout tournaments and team tournaments.
- Tournament bookIn chess, tournament book refers to a book recording the scores of all the games in a tournament, usually with analysis of the best or most important games and some background on the event and its participants. One well-known example is Bronstein's Zurich International Chess Tournament 1953.
- Tournament director (TD)Tournament director (TD): Also tournament controller [chiefly British]. Organizer and arbiter of a tournament, responsible for enforcing the tournament rules and the laws of chess.
- Tournament performance rating (TPR)In chess, tournament performance rating (TPR) refers to the performance rating over the course of a tournament.
- WCMIn chess, WCM refers to an abbreviation for Woman Candidate Master.
- Woman Candidate Master (WCM)In chess, Woman Candidate Master (WCM) refers to a women-only chess title ranking below Woman FIDE Master.
- Zonal tournamentsZonal tournaments: Tournaments organized by FIDE, the first qualifying cycle of the World Chess Championship. Each zonal tournament features top players of a certain geographical zone. Up until 1993 the winners went on to Interzonal tournaments.
Rules
41 terms
- AdjustAdjust means touching a piece only to straighten it, not to move it. In a real game you should say 'I adjust' before touching the piece, otherwise touch-move rules may apply.
- Artificial castlingArtificial castling: Also known as castling by hand. Refers to a maneuver of several separate moves by the king and by a rook where they end up as if they had castled.
- Bishops on opposite colorsBishops on opposite colors: Bishops of opposite colors. A situation in which one player has only a light-square bishop remaining while the other has only a dark-square bishop remaining.
- Book drawA book draw is a known theoretical drawing position. The important point is that correct technique holds the draw even if one side appears to have pressure.
- Castling into itIn chess, castling into it refers to a situation where one side castles and a result is that the king is in more danger at the destination than on the initial square, either immediately or because lines and diagonals can be more readily opened against it.
- Castling longCastling long means castling queenside. It usually places the king on c1 or c8 and often leads to sharper games because the rook becomes active on the d-file.
- Castling shortCastling short means castling kingside. It is the most common way to get the king safer and connect the rooks.
- Dead drawIn chess, dead draw refers to a drawn position in which neither player has any realistic chance to win. In the strict sense, dead draw may refer to a position in which it is impossible for either player to win (such as insufficient material). In a broader sense, it may refer to a simple, lifeless position that would require a major blunder before either side would have a chance to win.
- DrawIn chess, draw refers to a game that ends without victory for either player. Most drawn games are draws by agreement. The other ways that a game can end in a draw are by stalemate, by a dead position, by the threefold repetition rule, by the fifty-move rule, by the fivefold repetition rule, and by the seventy-five-move rule.
- Draw by agreementIn chess, draw by agreement refers to a game that is ended by both players' accepting a draw.
- Draw deathDraw death: Hypothetical scenario whereby elite-level chess players, aided by modern computer analysis, become so good that they never make mistakes, leading to endless drawn games (since chess is widely believed to be drawn with best play from both sides).
- Draw offerA draw offer is a proposal to end the game peacefully. Before offering or accepting, judge the position honestly: who is better, who has risk, and whether either side can make progress.
- DrawishIn chess, drawish refers to an adjective describing a position or game that is likely to end in a draw.
- E.p.In chess, e.p. refers to an abbreviation for en passant.
- En passant (e.p.)In chess, en passant (e.p.) refers to a special pawn capture available immediately after an enemy pawn advances two squares and passes an attacked square.
- Fifty-move ruleThe fifty-move rule allows a draw claim if fifty moves by each side pass without a pawn move or capture. It matters most in long endgames where one side is trying to prove progress.
- FingerfehlerIn chess, fingerfehler refers to an error caused by unthinkingly touching the wrong piece or releasing a piece on the wrong square, forcing the player to move that piece in accordance with the touch-move rule.
- Fivefold repetitionIn chess, fivefold repetition refers to a game is drawn if the same position occurs five times, with specific meaning of occurrence as under threefold repetition.
- Grandmaster drawIn chess, grandmaster draw refers to a game in which the players agree to a quick draw. Originally it referred to such games between grandmasters, but the term can now refer to any such game.
- Illegal moveAn illegal move is a move that breaks the rules of chess. In tournament play it can carry penalties, so always resolve legality before continuing.
- Illegal positionIn chess, illegal position refers to a position in a game that is a consequence of an illegal move or an incorrect starting position.
- J'adoubeJ'adoube means 'I adjust.' Say it before straightening a piece so it is clear you are not making a move.
- Kingside castlingIn chess, kingside castling refers to another name for castling short, written O-O.
- Long castlingLong castling is another name for castling long.
- MoveIn chess, move refers to a turn taken by one of the players, moving a piece to a new square (sometimes with the capture of an opponent's piece or the promotion of a pawn) or castling.
- Opposite castlingOpposite castling: Opposite-side castling. Describes when one player has castled kingside and the opponent has castled queenside.
- Passar battagliaIn chess, passar battaglia refers to the former rule that a pawn could evade capture by an opposing pawn by its initial two-square advance, in contrast to the en passant rule.
- PawnIn chess, pawn refers to a piece that can move one square directly forward, or on its first move, can move two squares directly forward. It can also move one square diagonally forward when capturing. It may capture en passant. Upon reaching its eighth rank, it is promoted to a same-colored queen, rook, bishop, or knight.
- Pawn rollerIn chess, pawn roller refers to two connected passed pawns. "Roller" refers to their ability to defend one another as they advance toward promotion.
- PieceIn chess, piece refers to one of the chessmen or figures used to play the game – that is, a king, queen, rook, bishop, knight or pawn. Each piece type has its own rules of movement on the board and of capturing enemy pieces. This is the definition used in the context of rules of chess – for example, the touched piece rule.
- QueeningQueening: Promotion to a queen. Also called promoting. Rarely used to indicate promotion to a knight, rook, or bishop (i.e. underpromotion) as well.
- Queenside castlingIn chess, queenside castling refers to another name for castling long, written O-O-O.
- RemisIn chess, remis refers to a draw. It literally means "reset" and is somewhat archaic (the usual word for a draw in modern French is nulle), but is internationally understood and may be used between players without a common language.
- RollIn chess, roll means to move a passed pawn forward, especially to promotion;.
- Seventy-five-move ruleIn chess, seventy-five-move rule refers to the game is drawn if no capture or pawn move has occurred in the last seventy-five moves by either side, related to the fifty-move rule for looking at a series of moves without capture or pawn move.
- Short castlingShort castling is another name for castling short.
- Tarrasch ruleIn chess, Tarrasch rule refers to the general principle that rooks usually should be placed behind passed pawns, either one's own or one's opponent's. Named after Siegbert Tarrasch.
- Theoretical drawTheoretical draw is another name for book draw.
- Threefold repetitionThreefold repetition is a drawing rule: if the same position with the same player to move and same rights occurs three times, a draw can be claimed. It often appears through repeated checks or repeated defensive shuffling.
- Touch-move ruleTouch-move rule: Touched piece rule. The rule that requires a player who touches a piece to move that piece unless the piece has no legal moves. If a player moves a piece to a particular square and takes their hand off it, the move must be to that square if it is a legal move.
- Troitsky lineTroitsky line: Also Troitzky line. Endgame analysis by Alexey Troitsky of two knights versus a pawn found certain pawn positions that result in win, draw or loss. The resulting pawn positions on each file form what is known as the Troitsky line or Troitsky position.
Notation
16 terms
- Algebraic notation (AN)Algebraic notation is the standard written language for chess moves. It lets you record, replay, search, and analyze games accurately.
- AnnotationAnnotation is written commentary on a game. It can explain plans, tactics, mistakes, and critical moments so the moves become easier to learn from.
- Chess notationChess notation is another name for notation.
- Descriptive notationDescriptive notation is an older way of writing chess moves based on each player's perspective, such as P-K4. Modern algebraic notation is easier to search and is now standard.
- Extended Position Description (EPD)In chess, Extended Position Description (EPD) refers to a Forsyth–Edwards Notation derivative format that contains the position on the chessboard, but not the game. It is primarily used to test chess engines.
- FANIn chess, FAN refers to an abbreviation for figurine algebraic notation, which substitutes symbols for letters to represent piece names (e.g. ♘f3 instead of Nf3).
- FENFEN is a compact text format that records a single chess position, including pieces, side to move, castling rights, en passant rights, and move counters.
- FileIn chess, file refers to a column of squares of the chessboard. A specific file can be named either using its position in algebraic notation, a–h, or by using its position in descriptive notation. For example, "f-file" and "king bishop file" both denote the squares f1–f8 (or KB1–KB8 in descriptive notation).
- Forsyth–Edwards Notation (FEN)In chess, Forsyth–Edwards Notation (FEN) refers to a standard notation for describing a particular board position of a chess game. The purpose of FEN notation is to provide all the necessary information to restart a game from a particular position.
- KtIn chess, Kt refers to the symbol sometimes used for the knight when recording chess moves in descriptive notation, mainly in older literature. An N is used instead in algebraic notation and in later descriptive notation to avoid confusion with K, the symbol for the king.
- NotationIn chess, notation refers to any method of recording chess moves, allowing games to be later published, replayed and analyzed. The most common notation today is algebraic notation, which is used internationally. Formerly descriptive notation was standard in English language publications.
- PGNPGN is a text format for storing complete chess games. It records the moves and can also include players, result, event, date, comments, and variations.
- Portable Game Notation (PGN)Portable Game Notation (PGN): This is a popular computer-processible ASCII format for recording chess games (both the moves and related data). There are import and export versions: the import version is lax, while the export version is not.
- RankIn chess, rank refers to a row of squares of the chessboard. In algebraic notation, ranks are numbered 1–8 starting from White's side of the board; however, players customarily refer to ranks from their own perspectives.
- SANIn chess, SAN refers to an abbreviation for standard algebraic notation or short algebraic notation (e.g. 1.Nf3), as opposed to long algebraic notation (e.g. 1.Ng1-f3).
- Standard notationStandard notation is another name for algebraic notation.
Chess History
23 terms
- AmateurIn chess, amateur refers to any player whose main occupation is not chess. The distinction between professional and amateur is not very important in chess as amateurs may win prizes, accept appearance fees, and earn any title, including World Champion. In the 19th century, "Amateur" was sometimes used in published game scores to conceal the name of the losing player in a Master vs.
- ECFIn chess, ECF refers to the English Chess Federation (ECF) is the governing chess organisation in England and is one of the federations of the FIDE. It was known as the British Chess Federation (BCF) until 2005 when it was renamed.
- FGMIn chess, FGM refers to an abbreviation for FICGS Grandmaster.
- FICGS GrandmasterIn chess, FICGS Grandmaster refers to a correspondence chess title calculated by the FICGS (Free Internet Correspondence Games Server) organization.
- FIDEFIDE is the international chess federation. It governs official titles, ratings, laws of chess, and many world championship events.
- FIDE Master (FM)In chess, FIDE Master (FM) refers to a chess title ranking below International Master.
- FMIn chess, FM refers to an abbreviation for FIDE Master.
- GMIn chess, GM refers to an abbreviation for Grandmaster.
- Grandmaster (GM)Grandmaster is the highest standard chess title awarded by FIDE. It indicates elite strength earned through rating and tournament norms.
- IGMIn chess, IGM refers to an abbreviation for the older term International Grandmaster. The modern usage is Grandmaster (GM).
- IMIn chess, IM refers to an abbreviation for International Master.
- International Grandmaster (IGM)In chess, International Grandmaster (IGM) refers to the original name of the FIDE title, now simply called Grandmaster (GM).
- International Master (IM)In chess, International Master (IM) refers to a chess title that ranks below Grandmaster but above FIDE Master.
- International Woman MasterInternational Woman Master: Obsolete name for Woman International Master.
- Romantic chessRomantic chess was the style of chess prevalent in the 19th century. It is characterized by bold attacks and sacrifices.
- United States Chess FederationUnited States Chess Federation: This is a nonprofit organization, the governing chess organization within the United States, and one of the federations of the FIDE.
- WFMIn chess, WFM refers to an abbreviation for Woman FIDE Master.
- WGMIn chess, WGM refers to an abbreviation for Woman Grandmaster.
- WIMIn chess, WIM refers to an abbreviation for Woman International Master.
- Woman FIDE Master (WFM)In chess, Woman FIDE Master (WFM) refers to a women-only chess title ranking below Woman International Master.
- Woman Grandmaster (WGM)In chess, Woman Grandmaster (WGM) refers to the highest ranking gender-restricted chess title except for Women's World Champion.
- Woman International Master (WIM)In chess, Woman International Master (WIM) refers to a women-only chess title ranking below Woman Grandmaster and above Woman FIDE Master.
- World ChampionIn chess, World Champion refers to a winner of the World Chess Championship.
General Terms
86 terms
- AutomatonAn automaton is a self-operating machine. In chess, it refers to chess-playing machines that were in fact hoaxes and under the control of hidden human players. Automatons stirred up great interest in the 18th and 19th centuries and inspired early thoughts of the possibility of artificial intelligence.
- BCFBCF: British Chess Federation, the former name of the English Chess Federation.
- BCMIn chess, BCM refers to an abbreviation for British Chess Magazine.
- BCOIn chess, BCO refers to an abbreviation for Batsford Chess Openings, the 1982 openings reference book by Raymond Keene and Garry Kasparov. The second edition (1989) is often called BCO-2. Compare ECO and MCO.
- Best playIn chess, best play refers to the theoretical absolute and ideal best moves from any given position.
- BrevityBrevity: See miniature.
- CaïssaCaïssa: Known as the goddess or muse of chess, whose name is taken from a nymph in a 1763 poem, Caïssa or The Game at Chess, by William Jones.
- Casual gameCasual game is another name for friendly game.
- CCIn chess, CC refers to an abbreviation for correspondence chess or for chess club.
- Chess annotationChess annotation is another name for annotation.
- Chess blindnessChess blindness refers to the failure of a player to see a good move or danger that should normally be considered obvious. The term was coined by Siegbert Tarrasch. Similar to Kotov syndrome.
- Chess clubChess club refers to an in-person, local chess play organization.
- Chop woodIn chess, chop wood refers to slang for capturing or exchanging pieces.
- ColorColor: Colour. The white or black pieces, and the white or black squares. The actual pieces and squares may be other colors, usually light and dark, but they are referred to as white and black. See White and Black in chess.
- Consultation gameIn chess, consultation game refers to a game in which two or more players consult with each other to jointly decide the moves for one side. Consultation games may also involve teams of two or more players playing on both sides.
- CookCook: In chess problems, an unintended alternative solution, or a refutation.
- Corr.In chess, corr. refers to an abbreviation for correspondence game.
- CrampedCramped: Having limited mobility in a position.
- ECUIn chess, ECU refers to the European Chess Union (ECU) is the continental association for chess in Europe.
- EPDIn chess, EPD refers to an abbreviation for Extended Position Description.
- Extended fianchettoExtended fianchetto is another name for fianchetto.
- First playerIn chess, first player refers to the expression "the first player" is sometimes used to refer to White.
- First-move advantageIn chess, first-move advantage refers to the slight (by most accounts) advantage that White has by virtue of moving first.
- FishIn chess, fish refers to a weak or easily defeated player or players.
- FlankIn chess, flank refers to the queenside a-, b-, and c-files; or the kingside f-, g-, and h-files. Distinguished from the center d- and e-files. Also called wing.
- Forced moveIn chess, forced move refers to the only legal move in a position, or the only move which does not result in an immediate loss or serious disadvantage. Compare forcing move.
- Forced winIn chess, forced win refers to a win guaranteed by a series of forcing moves.
- GodGod: Metaphorical; a hypothetical player who always plays perfectly.
- HandicapHandicap is another name for odds.
- Hanging pawnsHanging pawns: Usually two adjacent pawns with no friendly pawns on neighboring files, often creating both dynamic chances and structural targets.
- Harrwitz bishopsHarrwitz bishops is another name for Horwitz bishops.
- Hutton pairingIn chess, Hutton pairing refers to a pairing technique invented in 1921 by George Dickson Hutton for matching teams of players in which only one game is required per player. Has been used regularly for correspondence team events and for matches between many teams conducted on one day. Also called jamboree pairing.
- ICCAICCA is another name for International Correspondence Chess Federation.
- ICCFIn chess, ICCF refers to an abbreviation for International Correspondence Chess Federation.
- ICSIn chess, ICS refers to an abbreviation for Internet chess server.
- In checkIn check is another name for check.
- InactiveInactive is another name for passive.
- Informal gameInformal game is another name for friendly game.
- InnovationIn chess, innovation refers to a synonym for theoretical novelty.
- International Correspondence Chess FederationInternational Correspondence Chess Federation: Organization founded in 1951 to replace the International Correspondence Chess Association (ICCA).
- Internet chess server (ICS)Internet chess server (ICS) refers to an external server that provides the facility to play, discuss, and view chess over the Internet.
- KibitzKibitz: As a spectator, making comments on a chess game that can be heard by the players. Kibitzing on a serious game while it is in progress (rather than during a post-mortem) is a serious breach of chess etiquette.
- Laws of chessLaws of chess refers to the rules of chess.
- LiquidationLiquidation is another name for simplification.
- Loose positionIn chess, loose position refers to a position vulnerable to opponent attacks because it is overextended or its pieces are uncoordinated.
- Losing a tempoLosing a tempo is another name for tempo.
- NCOIn chess, NCO refers to an abbreviation for Nunn's Chess Openings, a chess openings reference. Compare ECO and MCO.
- NNNN: Traditionally used in game scores to indicate a player whose name is not known, or whose name the editor chooses not to publish (usually the loser). The origin is uncertain. It may be an abbreviation of the Latin nomina (names), or it may be short for the Latin phrase nomen nescio (name unknown). Sometimes N.N.
- NoveltyA novelty is a new move in a known opening position. A good novelty is not just surprising; it solves a problem or creates a new practical challenge.
- Offhand gameOffhand game is another name for skittles.
- Open linesOpen lines: Unobstructed files and diagonals.
- OverextendedAn overextended position results when a player has advanced pawns too far into the opponent's side without sufficient support. The premature advance can leave weaknesses in the player's camp or the advanced pawns themselves may be weak (overextended pawns).
- OverworkedOverworked is another name for overloaded.
- PatzerIn chess, patzer refers to a weak chess player (from German: patzen, "to bungle").
- PCAIn chess, PCA refers to an abbreviation for Professional Chess Association.
- Play by handIn chess, play by hand means to make a move intuitively and without analyzing the move.
- Postal chessPostal chess is another name for correspondence chess.
- Principle of two weaknessesIn chess, Principle of two weaknesses refers to a technique of increasing one's advantage by causing the opponent, who has one weakness, to have a second weakness. Even if both weaknesses are minor, the fact of having two, in practice, becomes a major weakness.
- Problem-likeIn chess, problem-like refers to an elegant and counterintuitive tactical shot, of the type generally found in chess problems rather than in actual play, can be termed problem-like.
- Quickplay finishIn chess, quickplay finish refers to the same as sudden death.
- Raking bishopsIn chess, raking bishops refers to another term for Horwitz bishops.
- Randomized chessRandomized chess: "A form of unorthodox chess designed to discount knowledge of the openings. The pawns are placed as in the array and behind them the pieces are placed in unorthodox fashion.".
- Related squaresRelated squares is another name for corresponding squares.
- ReplyIn chess, reply refers to any move by Black after a move by White, or vice versa.
- ScalpIn chess, scalp means to defeat a much higher-ranked player, especially a titled player.
- Second playerIn chess, second player refers to the expression "the second player" is sometimes used to refer to Black.
- SeesawSeesaw is another name for windmill.
- ShotIn chess, shot refers to colloquial for an unexpected or sharp move that typically makes a tactical threat or technical challenge for the opponent.
- SimulIn chess, simul refers to short for simultaneous exhibition.
- Simultaneous chessSimultaneous chess refers to a form of chess in which one player plays against several players simultaneously. It is usually an exhibition.
- SitzfleischIn chess, sitzfleisch refers to the ability to sit still.
- Strategic crushStrategic crush: Win characterized by gradual accumulation of advantages and complete prevention of counterplay.
- TabiaTabia: Also tabiya. In chess openings a tabia is a key point. It may be a well-known "point of departure" where variations branch off, it may be a position that is reached so often that the real game begins after this initial series of book moves.
- TakebackTakeback: Used in casual games whereby both players agree to undo one or more moves.
- TechniqueIn chess, technique refers to the manner in which a player converts an advantageous position into a win.
- TNIn chess, TN refers to an abbreviation for theoretical novelty.
- UnclearIn chess, unclear refers to a position where it is unclear who (if anyone) has an advantage.
- UnsoundUnsound: Antonym of sound.
- USCFIn chess, USCF refers to an abbreviation for United States Chess Federation.
- ValveIn chess, valve refers to a move that opens one line and closes another.
- Vanished centerVanished center: Vanished centre. A position with no white or black center pawns.
- WCCIn chess, WCC refers to an abbreviation for World Chess Championship.
- WingIn chess, wing refers to the queenside a-, b-, and c-files; or the kingside f-, g-, and h-files. Also called flank.
- Winning percentageIn chess, winning percentage refers to a number calculated by adding together the number of games won and half of the number of games drawn (i.e. ignoring the losses), then dividing that total by the total number of games that were played. Another way of calculating the winning percentage is by taking the percentage of games won by a player plus half the percentage of drawn games.
- Won gameWon game is another name for winning position.
- WoodpusherIn chess, woodpusher refers to a weak chess player, also referred to as a patzer or duffer.
Boards & Equipment
40 terms
- Back rankIn chess, back rank refers to a player's first rank (the rank on which the pieces stand in the starting position). White's back rank is Black's eighth rank; Black's back rank is White's eighth rank. Also called home rank and first rank.
- BlackIn chess, black refers to the dark-colored squares on the chessboard are often referred to as "the black squares" even though they are often some other dark color. Similarly, "the black pieces" are sometimes actually some other (usually dark) color.
- BoardBoard: See chessboard.
- Board oneBoard one is another name for first board.
- Central fileCentral file is another name for center file.
- Chess setChess set refers to the thirty-two pieces required for a game, plus a chessboard.
- ChessboardIn chess, chessboard refers to the chequered board used in chess, consisting of 64 squares (eight rows by eight columns) arranged in two alternating colors, light and dark.
- ChessmenIn chess, chessmen refers to the movable figures placed on the board in a game of chess. Includes both pieces and pawns. Singular: chessman.
- Connected rooksIn chess, connected rooks refers to two rooks of the same color on the same rank or file with no pawns or pieces between them. Connected rooks are usually desirable. Players often connect rooks on their own first rank or along an open file.
- Critical squareCritical square is another name for key square.
- Dark squaresIn chess, dark squares refers to the 32 dark-colored squares on the chessboard, such as a1 and h8. A dark square is always located at a player's left-hand corner. Compare light squares.
- Demonstration boardIn chess, demonstration board refers to a large standing chess board used to analyze a game or show a game in progress. Johann Löwenthal invented the demonstration board in 1857.
- Direct oppositionDirect opposition: Opposition on the same file or rank with one square between the kings.
- Eighth rankIn chess, eighth rank refers to the rank on which pawns promote (rank eight for White; rank one for Black). Also called last rank.
- Escape squareEscape square is another name for flight square.
- Expanded centerIn chess, expanded center refers to the central sixteen squares of the chessboard.
- First boardFirst board: In team chess, the player who is assigned to face the strongest opponents. Also called top board and board one. Second board faces the next strongest players, followed by third board, and so on. Generally board assignments must be made before the competition begins. Players may not switch boards, although reserve players are often allowed as substitutes.
- First rankFirst rank is another name for home rank.
- Frontier lineIn chess, frontier line refers to an imaginary line dividing the board into two halves, passing between the fourth and fifth ranks. The frontier line separates White's side of the board from Black's side. Coined by Nimzowitsch.
- Game clockGame clock is another name for chess clock.
- Half-open fileA half-open file is a file with no friendly pawn but at least one enemy pawn. Rooks often use half-open files to pressure backward or isolated pawns.
- Home rankIn chess, home rank refers to the rank on which the pieces stand in the starting position (rank one for White; rank eight for Black). Also called back rank and first rank.
- Horizontal lineHorizontal line is another name for rank.
- Key squareIn chess, key square refers to an important square.
- Last rankLast rank is another name for eighth rank.
- Light squaresIn chess, light squares refers to the 32 light-colored squares on the chessboard, such as h1 and a8. Compare dark squares.
- OTBIn chess, OTB refers to an abbreviation for over the board.
- Over the boardIn chess, over the board refers to an over-the-board game is played face to face with the opponent, as opposed to a remote opponent as in online chess or correspondence chess.
- Pawn islandIn chess, pawn island refers to a group of pawns of one color on consecutive files with no other pawns of the same color on an adjacent file. A pawn island consisting of one pawn is an isolated pawn.
- PositionPosition: "The disposition of pieces and pawns, of one or both colours, at any stage of the game or as set in a composition." If one side has an overall advantage in strength, that side is said to have "the better position". If neither side has an overall advantage, the position might be called level or equal or balanced.
- PruningPruning: Chess engines usually include an algorithm to eliminate certain moves from consideration, assuming that they are blunders and therefore irrelevant to the final move selection. Forward pruning runs the risk of overlooking the best move; this risk may be slight to moderate depending on how aggressively the pruning algorithm is set.
- Reserve tempoIn chess, reserve tempo refers to a move a player has available. Such a move may not be crucial to the position on the board, but being able to force the opponent to move by making a reserve move can on occasion result in a significant advantage.
- SkittlesIn chess, skittles refers to a casual or "pickup" game, usually played without a chess clock. At chess tournaments, a skittles room is where one goes to play for fun while waiting for the next formal game.
- Staunton chess setStaunton chess set refers to the standard design of chess pieces, required for use in competition.
- TimeIn chess, time refers to the amount of time each player has to think and calculate as measured by a chess clock.
- Top boardTop board is another name for first board.
- Tripled pawnsIn chess, tripled pawns refers to three pawns of the same color on the same file; considered a weakness due to their inability to defend each other.
- Vertical lineVertical line is another name for file.
- WeaknessIn chess, weakness refers to a pawn or square that can be attacked and is hard to defend.
- WhiteIn chess, white refers to the light-colored squares on the chessboard are often referred to as "the white squares" even though they often are some other light color. Similarly, "the white pieces" are sometimes actually some other (usually light) color.
Chess Variants
9 terms
- Basque chessBasque chess: Basque system. A chess competition in which the players simultaneously play each other two games on two boards, each playing White on one and Black on the other. There is a clock at both boards. It removes the bonus in mini-matches of playing White first. Basque chess was first played in the 2012 Donostia Chess Festival in the Basque Country, Spain.
- Blind chessBlind chess is another name for Kriegspiel.
- Blindfold chessBlindfold chess refers to a form of chess in which one or both players are not allowed to see the board.
- Bughouse chessBughouse chess refers to a popular chess variant played with teams of two or more.
- Chess variantChess variant refers to a chess-like game played using a board, pieces, or rules different from standard chess.
- Fischer Random ChessFischer Random Chess is another name for Chess960.
- KriegspielKriegspiel is a chess variant played by two opponents who can see only their own board, and one monitoring umpire who makes the moves of both players on a neutral board. It requires three chess sets and boards. The players make their moves based on limited information from the umpire. It was introduced in 1898.
- Sans voirSans voir: See blindfold chess.
- VariantVariant is another name for chess variant.
A chess glossary written for players, not lexicographers
Chess has accumulated its vocabulary over roughly fifteen hundred years and half a dozen languages. The game reached Europe from India via Persia and the Arab world — checkmate comes from the Persian shāh māt, and rook from rukh, the chariot. The Italian schools of the sixteenth century gave us gambit and fianchetto; the French gave us en passant; and the German-speaking theorists of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries gave us zugzwang and the in-between move. Nobody sat down and designed this vocabulary, which is why so much of it needs explaining.
Every entry here is written the way a coach would explain it: what the term means, what it looks like on the board, the mistake players most often make with it, and how to practise it. Tactical patterns like the pin, fork and skewer sit alongside positional ideas such as the outpost and the passed pawn, plus the endgame technique and rules vocabulary you need to read any chess book or annotation.
How to actually learn chess terminology
Memorising definitions does not make you spot patterns. What works is meeting a term in a position where it decided the game. That is why Chessiro's free game review names the concept behind every mistake you make and underlines the terms in the coach's explanations, so a definition is always one tap away while you are looking at the board. Once a pattern keeps costing you games, it turns into training built from your own positions.
The other reliable way in is watching a great player demonstrate the idea. Our classic games collection is full of the canonical examples — the smothered mate, the double bishop sacrifice, the windmill — each one opening in the same review, with the coach explaining the pattern as it unfolds.
Free game review
Stop looking words up. Start training them.
Every concept in this glossary shows up in your own games. Chessiro finds where a pin, fork, or weak square actually cost you the game and coaches you through the position until the pattern sticks.
