Tactics
What is a passive in chess?
- Tactics
- Forcing
- Pattern
Passive is a tactical concept: 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. Do not stop at naming the motif; calculate the forcing line that makes it work.
What to look for on the board
- Checks, captures, and threats.
- Loose pieces and unsafe kings.
- A forcing sequence, not just a pattern name.
Related terms
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