Boards & Equipment
What is a position in chess?
- Board
- Pieces
- Coordinates
Position is a board or equipment term: "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. You use this term to describe the board accurately, which matters for notation, coordinates, and analysis.
position FAQ
What is a position in chess?
Position is a board or equipment term: "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. You use this term to describe the board accurately, which matters for notation, coordinates, and analysis.
Train this pattern on your own games
Reading a definition is not the same as spotting the pattern with a clock running. Chessiro's free game review runs Stockfish 18 over every move you play, names the concept behind each mistake, and turns the positions where it cost you into training puzzles. You can also see the idea in action in the classic games collection, where the greatest players in history demonstrate it.
Related terms
Free game review
See where position decides your games
Chessiro reviews your games with an AI coach that names the concept behind every mistake, then drills you on the exact positions where it happened until you stop repeating them.
