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Glossary of chess

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thisglossary of chess explains commonly used terms inchess, in alphabetical order. Some of these terms have their own pages, likefork andpin.

For a list of:

A

[edit]
absolute pin
Apin against theking is calledabsolute since the pinned piece cannot legally move out of the line ofattack (as moving it would expose the king tocheck).[1]
      Cf.relative pin.
active
Describes apiece thatthreatens a number of squares, or that has a number of squares available for its next move. It may also describe an aggressive style of play.[2]
      Antonym:passive
Envelope used for theadjournment of a match gameEfim Geller vs.Bent Larsen, Copenhagen 1966

adjournment
Suspension of a chess game with the intention to finish it later. It was once very common in high-level competition, often occurring soon after the firsttime control, but has been mostly abandoned due to the advent of computer analysis.[3]
See also:sealed move

adjudication
A way to decide the result of an unfinished game. Atournament 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.[4]
adjust
Seetouch-move rule. To adjust the position of apiece on its square without being required to move it. A player may do this only on their turn, and must first say "I adjust", or the French equivalent "J'adoube".[5]
advanced pawn
Apawn that is on the opponent's half of the board (the fifthrank or higher for White; the fourth rank or lower for Black). An advanced pawn may be weak if it isoverextended, lacking support and difficult to defend, or strong if itcramps the enemy by limitingmobility. An advancedpassed pawn that threatens topromote can be especially strong.[6]
advantage
A better position with the chance of winning the game. Evaluation factors can includespace,time,material, andthreats.[2]
Alekhine vs. Nimzowitsch, 1930
abcdefgh
8a8b8 black rookc8d8e8f8 black kingg8h88
7a7 black pawnb7c7 black rookd7 black queene7 black knightf7g7 black pawnh77
6a6 white pawnb6 black pawnc6 black knightd6e6 black pawnf6g6h6 black pawn6
5a5b5 white bishopc5d5 black pawne5 white pawnf5 black pawng5h55
4a4b4 white pawnc4d4 white pawne4f4 white pawng4h44
3a3b3c3 white rookd3e3f3 white knightg3h33
2a2b2c2 white rookd2e2f2g2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1b1c1 white queend1e1f1g1 white kingh11
abcdefgh
Alekhine's gun

Alekhine's gun
A special form ofbattery in which aqueen backs up tworooks on the samefile.[7]
An example ofalgebraic notation

algebraic notation ("AN")
The standard way to record the moves of a chess game, using alphanumeric coordinates for the squares.[8] Also calledstandard notation.[9]
amateur
Any player whose main occupation is not chess.[10] The distinction between professional and amateur is not very important in chess as amateurs may win prizes, accept appearance fees, and earn any title, includingWorld Champion.[10][11] In the 19th century, "Amateur" was sometimes used in published game scores to conceal the name of the losing player in a Master vs. Amateur contest. It was thought to be impolite to use a player's name without permission, and the professional did not want to risk losing a customer.[9]
See also:NN

analysis
The study of a game or a position, in order to evaluate the quality of the moves and various other aspects of the game or position. At the end of a game, the players will often do an analysis of the game.[2]
See also:post-mortem

annotation
Written commentary on a game or a position using words,chess symbols, ornotation.[2]
announced mate
A practice, common in the 19th century, whereby a player would announce a sequence of moves, believed by them to constitutebest play by both sides, that led to aforced checkmate for the announcing player in a specified number of moves (for example, "mate in five").[12]
antipositional
A move or a plan that is not in accordance with the principles ofpositional play.[13] 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. Antipositional moves are oftenpawn moves; since pawns cannot move backwards to return to squares they have left, their advance can create irreparable weaknesses.[14]
Anti-Sicilian
Anopeningvariation thatWhite uses against theSicilian Defense (1.e4 c5) other than the most common plan of 2.Nf3 followed by 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 (the Open Sicilian). Some Anti-Sicilians include theAlapin Variation (2.c3), Moscow Variation (2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+), Rossolimo Variation (2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5), Grand Prix Attack (2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 and now 5.Bc4 or 5.Bb5), Closed Sicilian (2.Nc3 followed by g3 and Bg2),Smith–Morra Gambit (2.d4 cxd4 3.c3), andWing Gambit (2.b4).[15]
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h8 black king8
7a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h7 white rook7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6 white knightg6h66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2b2c2d2e2f2g2h22
1a1b1c1d1e1f1g1h11
abcdefgh
Arabian mate

Arabian mate
A checkmate that occurs when the knight and rook trap the opposing king in a corner.[16]
arbiter
An official responsible for overseeing chess tournaments and ensuring that the rules of chess are obeyed.
arena
A type of tournament without a fixed amount of rounds.[17]
Armageddon game
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 shorterblitz games have not resolved the tie.[18]
artificial castling
Also known ascastling by hand.
Refers to a maneuver of several separate moves by theking and by arook where they end up as if they hadcastled.[19]
attack
An aggressive action on a part of the chessboard, or to threaten the capture of a piece or pawn.[20]
      Antonym:defense.
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8 black rookh88
7a7 white queenb7 black queenc7 black kingd7e7f7g7h77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2b2c2 white kingd2 white rooke2f2g2h22
1a1b1c1d1e1f1g1h11
abcdefgh
White wins with 1.Rd7+! The black king isattracted away from the defense of the black queen with askewer.

attraction
A type ofdecoy involving asacrifice of aminor ormajor piece on a square next to the enemy king, forcing the king to abandon the defense of another square. For example (see diagram), the black queen has interposed to block a check from the white queen, and White can check the king from the opposite direction to win the queen.[21]
automaton
An 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 ofartificial intelligence. By far, the most famous chess-playing "automaton" wasThe Turk, whose secret of human control was kept for a long time. The first true automatonEl Ajedrecista was created byLeonardo Torres y Quevedo.

B

[edit]
B
Symbol used for thebishop when recording chess moves in English.[22]
back rank
A player's firstrank (the rank on which the pieces stand in thestarting position). White's back rank is Black's eighth rank; Black's back rank is White's eighth rank.[23] Also calledhome rank andfirst rank.
back-rank mate
A checkmate delivered by a rook or queen along aback rank from which the mated king is unable to move because it is blocked by friendly pieces (usually pawns) or squares under attack on the player's second rank.[23] Also calledback-row mate.
back-rank weakness
A situation in which a player is under threat of aback-rank mate and, having no time/option to create an escape for the king, must constantly watch and defend against that threat, for example by keeping a rook on the back rank.[23]
backward pawn
Apawn that is behind a pawn of the same color on an adjacentfile and that cannot be advanced with the support of another pawn.[24]
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h88
7a7b7c7d7e7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh77
6a6b6c6d6 black bishope6 black pawnf6g6h6 black pawn6
5a5b5 black pawnc5d5 black pawne5f5g5h55
4a4b4 white pawnc4d4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3 white bishopd3e3 white pawnf3g3h3 white pawn3
2a2b2c2d2e2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh22
1a1b1c1d1e1f1g1h11
abcdefgh
White has abad bishop, Black has a good bishop (Evans 1967:66).

bad bishop
Abishop that is hemmed in by the player's ownpawns.[25]
      Cf.good bishop.
bare king
A position in which aking is the onlyman of itscolor on the board.[26]
Basque chess
OrBasque 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 2012Donostia Chess Festival in theBasque Country, Spain.[27]
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8c8d8e8 black rookf8g8h88
7a7 black pawnb7 black kingc7d7e7f7g7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6 black pawnc6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5 white rookf5 black pawng5h55
4a4b4c4d4 white pawne4f4 white pawng4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3 white pawnh33
2a2b2c2d2e2f2g2h2 white pawn2
1a1b1c1d1e1 white rookf1g1 white kingh11
abcdefgh
A pair of white rooks, aligned forming abattery, ready to take action

battery
Pieces gathered along a line of action in somewhat varying setups. In games, it usually means to line up rooks or the queen on a file, or to place a bishop and a queen on a diagonal.[20] In chess problems, a battery is an arrangement of two pieces in line with the enemyking on a rank, file, or diagonal so that if the middle piece moves, adiscovered check (or athreat other than a check) is delivered.[28][29][30]

BCF
British Chess Federation, the former name of theEnglish Chess Federation.[31]
See also:ECF

BCM
An abbreviation forBritish Chess Magazine.[32]
BCO
An abbreviation forBatsford Chess Openings, the 1982openings reference book byRaymond Keene andGarry Kasparov. The second edition (1989) is often calledBCO-2.[33]
      Cf.ECO andMCO.
best play
The theoretical absolute and ideal best moves from any given position.[34]
Charousek vs. Maroczy, 1895
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8 black rookh8 black king8
7a7b7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7f7g7 black pawnh77
6a6b6 black rookc6d6e6f6 black pawng6h6 black pawn6
5a5 black pawnb5c5d5e5 black knightf5 white pawng5h5 white pawn5
4a4 white pawnb4c4 white pawnd4 black pawne4 white pawnf4g4h44
3a3b3 white pawnc3d3 white pawne3f3g3h33
2a2b2c2 white bishopd2e2 white kingf2g2 white rookh22
1a1b1c1d1e1f1g1 white rookh11
abcdefgh
Example of abig pawn: the white bishop is doing the work of a pawn and has no bigger prospects.

big pawn
Abad bishop stuck behind its own pawns and defending them—effectively doing the work of a pawn.[35]
bind
A strong grip or stranglehold on a position that is difficult for the opponent to break. A bind is usually an advantage inspace created byadvanced pawns. TheMaróczy Bind is a well-known example.[36]
See also:squeeze

bishop
A piece that may move alongdiagonals without jumping.
bishop pair
The player with twobishops is said to have thebishop pair. Two bishops are able to control the diagonals of both colors. Inopen positions, two bishops are considered to have an advantage over twoknights, or a knight and a bishop.[20] Also calledthe two bishops.
bishop pawn
Orbishop's pawn. Apawn on the bishop'sfile, i.e. the c-file or f-file. Sometimes abbreviated "BP".[37]
bishops on opposite colors
Orbishops of opposite colors. A situation in which one player has only a light-squarebishop remaining while the other has only a dark-square bishop remaining. Inendgames, this often results in a draw if there are no other pieces than pawns, even if one side has a material advantage of one, two or even three pawns, since the bishops control different squares (seeOpposite-colored bishops endgame). In themiddlegame, however, the presence of opposite-colored bishops imbalances the game and can lead tomating attacks, since each bishop attacks squares that cannot be covered by the other.[38]
black
The dark-colored squares on thechessboard 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.[39]
See also:white

Black
The designation for the player who moves second, even though thepieces ("the black pieces") are sometimes actually some other (usually dark) color.[40]

blind chess
SeeKriegspiel.
blindfold chess
A form of chess in which one or both players are not allowed to see the board.[41]
blind pigs
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.[42]
blitz chess
[fromGerman:Blitz, "lightning"] Afast form of chess with a very shorttime limit, usually three or five minutes per player for the entire game. With the advent of electronicchess clocks, the time remaining is often incremented by one or two seconds per move.[43]
blitzkrieg
Ablitzkrieg is sometimes used to describe a quick attack on thef7- or f2-square early in the game.[44][45]
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8c8d8e8f8g8h88
7a7b7c7d7 black pawne7f7g7 black pawnh7 black king7
6a6 black pawnb6c6 black bishopd6e6 black pawnf6g6h66
5a5b5 black pawnc5d5 black knighte5 white pawnf5 black pawng5 white bishoph55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1c1d1 white rooke1f1g1 white kingh11
abcdefgh
Black has a solid light-squareblockade. White's bishop cannot challenge Black's minor pieces.

blockade
The placement of a piece directly in front of an enemy pawn, where it obstructs the pawn's advance, and hinders the movements of the other enemy pieces. The enemy pawn provides some shelter to the piece that is blocking it, thereby protecting it from attacks by enemy pieces. A blockade is most effective against passed or isolated pawns. The ideal piece to use as a blockader is the knight. This strategy was famously formulated byAron Nimzowitsch in 1924.[46][47]
blocked position
A position where both sides are constrained from making progress, typically by interlockingpawn chain(s) dividing the availablespace into two camps.[48]
See also:closed game

blunder
A critically bad move, an oversight (indicated by "??" in chessannotation).[20]
board
1.  Seechessboard.
2.  An assignment in team chess, e.g.first board, second board, etc.
board one
Seefirst board.
Schulder vs. Boden, London 1853
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8 black kingd8e8 black rookf8g8h8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7f7g7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6 black knightd6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 white bishope5f5 black bishopg5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4 white pawng4h44
3a3 black bishopb3c3 white pawnd3e3 white bishopf3 white queeng3h33
2a2 white pawnb2c2d2 white knighte2f2 white pawng2h2 white pawn2
1a1b1c1 white kingd1 white rooke1f1g1h1 white rook1
abcdefgh
Boden's mate

Boden's mate
Boden's mate, named forSamuel Boden, is acheckmate pattern in which the king, usually having castled queenside, is checkmated by two crisscrossing bishops. Immediately prior to delivering the mate, the winning side typically plays a queensacrifice on c3 or c6 to set up the mating position.[49]
book draw
Anendgame position known to be adraw withperfect play. Historically this was established by reference tochess endgame literature, but in simplified positions computer analysis in anendgame tablebase can be used.[50] Also calledtheoretical draw.
book move
Anopening move found in standard reference books onopening theory. A game is said to be "in book" when both players are playing moves found in the opening references. A game is said to be "out of book" when the players have reached the end of thevariations analyzed in the opening books, or if one of the players deviates with anovelty (or ablunder).[51]
book win
Anendgame position known to be awin withperfect play. Historically this was established by reference tochess endgame literature, but in simplified positions (currently seven pieces or fewer) computer analysis in anendgame tablebase can be used.[52]
break
A move that gainsspace and therefore freedom of movement, or the opening of ablocked position by the advance or capture of a pawn.[53]
See also:pawn break

breakthrough
Penetration of the opponent's position, or destruction of the defense, often by means of asacrifice.[20]
brevity
[chiefly British] Seeminiature.
brilliancy
A game that contains a spectacular, deep and beautiful strategic idea, combination, or original plan.[53]
brilliancy prize
A prize awarded at sometournaments for the bestbrilliancy played in the tournament.[54]
Bronstein delay
Atime control method withtime delay, invented byDavid Bronstein. When it becomes a player's turn to move, theclock waits for the delay period before starting to subtract from the player's remaining time.[55]
An example ofbughouse chess

bughouse chess
A popularchess variant played with teams of two or more.[56]
building a bridge
Making a path for aking in the endgame by providing protective cover againstchecks fromline pieces. A well-known example is theLucena position.[57]
bullet chess
Each side has one minute to make all their moves.[58]
bust
[colloq.] Arefutation of anopening, an opening line, a tactic, or a previously published analysis.[59][60]
bye
Atournament 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 awin (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).[60]

C

[edit]
Caïssa, the patron goddess of chess (author unknown, 19th century)

Caïssa
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, byWilliam Jones.[61]
calculate
To plan mentally a series of moves and consider possible responses, without actually moving the pieces.[20]
Candidate Master ("CM")
A chess title ranking belowFIDE Master.[62]
candidate move
A move that seems good upon initial observation of the position, and that warrants further analysis.[63]
Candidates Match
Aknockout match in theCandidates Tournament.[64]
Candidates Tournament
A tournament organized by theFIDE, the third and last qualifying cycle of theWorld Chess Championship. The participants are the top players of theInterzonal 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.[65]
can opener
[colloq.] The plan of attacking akingside position (sometimes afianchettoed one) by advancing the h-pawn with the intention of opening a file near the defender's king.[66][verification needed]
capped piece
A particular piece with which one player attempts to deliver checkmate. The requirement to checkmate with the capped piece constitutes ahandicap. When the capped piece is apawn, it is called apion coiffé [from French, "capped pawn"].[67]
capture
A move by a pawn or piece that removes from the board the opponent's pawn or piece. The capturing piece then occupies the square of the captured piece, except in the case of a capture that is doneen passant.[68]
castling
A move in which theking and arook are moved at the same time. It moves the king from the center to a flank where it usually is safer, and itdevelops the rook. It is the only time two pieces are moved in a turn. Castling can be done on either thekingside (notated 0-0) or thequeenside (0-0-0). Castling cannot be done in reply to acheck, nor if the king were to cross or land on a square that is under attack by the opponent, nor if either the king or the rook involved has already moved.[69][70]
castling into it
A situation where one sidecastles 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.[71]
castling long
Castlingqueenside; inchess notation: 0-0-0.[69] Also calledlong castling.[72]
castling rights
The ability to castle under thelaws of chess.
castling short
Castlingkingside; inchess notation: 0-0.[69] Also calledshort castling.[72]
casual game
Seefriendly game.
category
The category of a tournament is a measure of its strength based on the averageFIDE 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. A Category 18 tournament has an average rating between 2676 and 2700.[73]
CC
An abbreviation forcorrespondence chess or forchess club.
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black crosse5 black crossf5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4 black crosse4 black crossf4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
Thecenter squares are marked "×".

center
Orcentre. The four squares in the middle of theboard.[74] Sometimes short forpawn center. A king "in the center" can refer to an uncastled king on acenter file.

center file
Orcentre file. The king's file (e-file) or queen's file (d-file).
center pawn
Orcentre pawn. Apawn on the king's file (e-file) or queen's file (d-file).[75]
centipawn
A unit of evaluation used bychess 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.[76][better source needed]
central file
Seecenter file.
centralization
Moving a piece or pieces toward the center of the board, where they will not onlycontrol 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.[77]
      Antonym:decentralization.[78]
central pawn
Seecenter pawn.
cheapo
Slang for a primitivetrap, often set in the hope ofswindling a win or a draw from a lost position.[79] Also calledcheap shot.
check
A direct attack on theking by an enemyman. The attacked king is said to bein check. There are only three possible responses to a check: capturing the attacking piece, moving the king to an unattacked square, orinterposing a piece between the attacker and the king. In casual games a player usually announces "check"; however, this is not a requirement in tournament games.[80]
checkmate
Often shortened tomate. A position in which a player'sking is incheck and the player has no legal move (i.e. cannot move out of or escape the check). A player whose king is checkmated loses the game.[81]
chess annotation
Seeannotation.
chess blindness
The failure of a player to see a good move or danger that should normally be considered obvious. The term was coined bySiegbert Tarrasch. Similar toKotov syndrome.[82]
chessboard
The chequered board used in chess, consisting of 64 squares (eight rows by eight columns) arranged in two alternating colors, light and dark.[83]
Achess clock

chess clock
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 termflag fall originates. Modern clocks are digital.[84]
chess club
An in-person, local chess play organization.
chessmen
The movable figures placed on the board in a game of chess. Includes bothpieces andpawns.[85] Singular:chessman.
chess notation
Seenotation.
chess opening
Seeopening.
chess problem
Also calledcomposition. A chess position created by the composer which presents the solver with a particular task; for example, "White mates in two" (i.e., White to move andcheckmate Black in two moves against any possible defense).
A woodenchess set and board

chess set
The thirty-twopieces required for a game, plus achessboard.
chess variant
A chess-like game played using a board, pieces, or rules different from standard chess.[86]
Chess960
Also known asFischer Random Chess. Avariation of chess invented and advocated byBobby Fischer. The pieces and pawns have their normal moves, but the setup of pieces on thefirst rank is random, except that two rules must be followed: the king must be placed on a square between the rooks, and the bishops are placed on squares of opposite color. Black's pieces are placed opposite White's. Castling may be done; the special castling rules incorporate the normal castling in classic chess.[87][88]
chop wood
Slang forcapturing orexchanging pieces.[89]
See also:wood

classical
1.  Anopening system geared towards forming a fullpawn center. Classical ideas were challenged byhypermodern ideas.[74]
2.  A game using a longertime control such as 40/2; the opposite offast chess categories such asrapid,blitz orbullet.[90]
classical bishop sacrifice
SeeGreek gift sacrifice.
clearance
Removal of piece from a square,rank,file ordiagonal so that another piece may use it. It often involves sacrificing the piece that blocked the position.[91] SeeClearance sacrifice.
clock move
In a game playedclock 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 incasual games orblitz games.[92]
clock time
Time (consumed or remaining) on thechess clock, in atournament game.[93]
closed file
Afile on which White and Black each have apawn.[94]
closed game
Orclose game. A closed game has few open lines (files ordiagonals). It is generally characterized by interlockingpawn chains,cramped positions with few opportunities toexchange, and extensive maneuvering behind lines. Such a game may evolve and later become anopen game.[95]

Closed Game
A Closed Game is a particularopening that begins with the moves 1.d4 d5. It is also known as aDouble Queen's Pawn Opening orDouble Queen's Pawn Game.[96]
      Cf.Open Game.

closed tournament
Atournament in which only invited or qualifying players may participate. Also calledinvitational tournament.
      Cf.open tournament.
CM
An abbreviation forCandidate Master.
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8c8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5e5 black pawnf5g5h55
4a4b4c4 white bishopd4 black knighte4 white pawnf4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3 white knightg3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1g1h1 white rook1
abcdefgh
TheBlackburne Shilling Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4?!), an example ofcoffeehouse play

coffeehouse
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 inskittles games played in a coffeehouse or similar setting, particularly in games played for stakes orblitz chess. TheBlackburne Shilling Gambit is a typical example of coffeehouse play.[97]
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8 black bishopd8e8 black kingf8g8h8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7d7e7 white pawnf7g7h77
6a6b6c6 black pawnd6e6f6g6 white rookh6 white queen6
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4 white pawng4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h3 white pawn3
2a2 white pawnb2 black queenc2d2 black rooke2f2g2 white pawnh2 white king2
1a1b1c1d1e1 white rookf1g1h11
abcdefgh
White played acollinear move 41.Qh5 and won. (Maróczy–Romi, San Remo, 25 January 1930)[98]

collinear move
A move in which two opposing pieces face each other, and one slides along the line of attack without capturing the enemy piece.[99]
color
Orcolour. The white or blackpieces, 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.[85] SeeWhite and Black in chess.
colorbound
Orcolourbound. The property of a piece to access only squares of one color. In standard chess, eachbishop is colorbound to either thewhite orblack squares.
colors reversed
Orcolours reversed.With colors reversed refers to opening moves by White normally played by Black, or vice versa. An example is theKing's Indian Attack, where White's opening setup mirrors Black's setup in theKing's Indian Defense. In such openings, White necessarily has an extratempo compared to Black. Also called areverse opening.[100]
combination
A sequence of moves, includingforced moves, and often involving asacrifice, to gain an advantage.[74]
compensation
That which is gained in return for a loss – often a positional improvement in return for loss ofmaterial. If material issacrificed there may be a gain indevelopment, or if a minor piece isexchanged for two or three pawns, the pawns would be the compensation.[101]
computer move
A move that seems likely to have been played by acomputer rather than a human, either because the move seems counterintuitive, or to not make immediate sense, or to eventually make sense but not until deep into the game. Computer moves seem to be what they are: moves based on millions of brute-force calculations, and not on intuition, aesthetics, or emotion. A computer move would overlook a dramatic capture that might cause an opponent to immediatelyresign, in favor of an obscure move that may turn out to be only slightly better. At one time the term was used disparagingly, but its meaning has evolved as computers have improved. It is occasionally used to suggest that a player has been assisted by computer.[102][103]
connected passed pawns
Passed pawns on adjacentfiles. These are considered to be unusually powerful (often worth a minor piece or rook if on the sixth rank or above and not properly blockaded) because they can advance together.[74]

connected pawns
Refers to two or morepawns of the same color on adjacentfiles.[77]
      Cf.isolated pawns.
connected rooks
Tworooks of the same color on the samerank orfile with no pawns or pieces between them. Connected rooks are usually desirable. Players often connect rooks on their ownfirst rank or along anopen file.[104]
See also:doubled rooks

consolidation
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 orcombination has left their pieces in poor positions oruncoordinated.[105]
consultation game
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.[106]
continuation
Seevariation.
control
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.[107] Also, the player who has theinitiative has control.
control 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 ofopenings.[108]
cook
Inchess problems, an unintended alternative solution, or arefutation.[109]

coordination
The quality of multiple pieces working together, mutually supporting and complementing one another.[110]
corr.
An abbreviation forcorrespondence game.
correspondence chess
Chess played at a longtime control by long-distance correspondence. Traditionally correspondence chess was played though the post; today it is usually played over acorrespondence chess server or byemail. Typically, one move is transmitted in every correspondence.[111]
corresponding squares
Corresponding 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 pawnendgames. The theory of corresponding squares has developed to include complex calculations based on math-like formulas.[112] Also calledrelated squares.
      Cf.opposition.
counterattack
Anattack that responds to an attack by the opponent in a way other than by direct defense.[113]
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5 black pawnf5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4 white pawnf4 white pawng4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2f2g2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
TheFalkbeerCountergambit (1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5), a gambit response to theKing's Gambit

countergambit
Also "counter-gambit", "counter gambit". An openinggambit offered byBlack.[114] Some writers define the term more narrowly as an opening gambit offered by Black in response to an opening gambit by White[115] such as theAlbin Countergambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5) or theFalkbeer Countergambit (1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5).
counterplay
The defending side's own aggressive action.[116]
country move
A disparaging term for a move considered unsophisticated, especially an unnecessary single-step advance of therook's pawn in theopening. The term was popular in London in the late 19th century.[114]
cover
To protect a piece or control a square.
cramped
Having limitedmobility in a position.[117]
critical position
The moment in a game oropening when the evaluation shows that things are about to change, either towards an advantage for one player, or towards equality; a wrong move can be disastrous.[116]
critical square
Seekey square.
cross-check
A cross-check is acheck played in reply to a check, especially when the original check is blocked by a piece that itself either delivers check or reveals adiscovered check from another piece.[118]
crosstable
An arrangement of the results of every game in atournament 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. There may be one column for each successive round, or, in around-robin tournament, there may be one column for each player, with the players in the same order in the columns as in the rows. For each player, the table cells on the player's row record the results of the player's games, using 1 for a win, 0 for a loss, and ½ for a draw. (In a doubleround-robin tournament each cell contains two entries, as each pair of players plays two games alternatingWhite andBlack.)[119] For examples seeHastings 1895 chess tournament,Nottingham 1936 chess tournament, andAVRO tournament.
crush
Colloquial for a quick win, especially an overwhelmingattack versus poor defensive play. A crushing move is a decisive one.

D

[edit]
dark-square bishop
Often shortened todark bishop[78] or abbreviatedDSB. One of the twobishops that moves only on thedark squares. In thestarting position, White's dark-square bishop is on c1; Black's is on f8.[40]
      Cf.light-square bishop.
dark squares
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.[40]
      Cf.light squares.
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h88
7a7b7c7d7e7 white bishopf7g7h77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5 white kingc5d5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3 black kingf3g3h33
2a2b2c2d2e2f2g2h22
1a1b1c1d1e1f1g1h11
abcdefgh
Adead draw by means of insufficient material. King versus king and bishop will never lead to checkmate. If for Black, a knight or a light-squared bishop were added to the position (e.g. a Nf3 or Bf3), a mate would be possible in theory for either side, but not with reasonable play, making it a "dead draw" in the broader sense.

dead draw
Adrawn 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 asinsufficient material). In a broader sense, it may refer to a simple, lifeless position that would require a majorblunder before either side would have a chance to win.[120]
dead position
A position where neither player canmate the opponent's king with any series of legal moves (e.g. knight and king against abare king). This position isdrawn.[121]
decoy
This is atactic used to lure an enemyman away from its defensive position.[122][123]

defense
1.  A move or plan to meet the opponent'sattack.[116]
2.  Part of the name ofopenings played by Black; e.g. theScandinavian Defense,King's Indian Defense,English Defense, etc.[116]
deflection
Adecoy tactic that involves luring an enemy piece away from a good square; typically, away from a square on which it defends another piece or threat. Deflection is thus closely related tooverloading.[124]
See also:attraction
Wouter Mees at ademonstration board

demonstration board
A large standing chess board used to analyze a game or show a game in progress.Johann Löwenthal invented the demonstration board in 1857.[125]
descriptive notation
A system of recording chess moves, used primarily in the English- and Spanish-speaking countries until the 1980s. Descriptive notation is based on natural language descriptions of chess moves rendered in abbreviated form, for example "pawn to queen's bishop's fourth" is rendered as "P-QB4". Now replaced by the standardalgebraic notation.[126]
desperado
Apiece that seems determined to give itself up, typically to bring aboutstalemate orperpetual check. Also anen prise or trapped piece that sacrifices itself for the maximumcompensation possible.[127][128]
development
The movement of non-pawn pieces in theopening from their original squares to squares where they can be moreactive. Development of one's pieces is one of theobjectives of the opening phase of the game.[122]
diagonal
A line of squares of the same color touching corner to corner, along which a queen or bishop moves.[129]
dirty flag
A scenario in which a player having a losing position on the board wins by virtue of the opponent exceeding thetime control. It typically occurs in faster formats, such asblitz orbullet, 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.[130]
See also:flag

discovered attack
Anattack made by a queen, rook, or bishop when another piece or pawn moves out of its way.[122]
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8d8e8 black queenf8g8h88
7a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5e5 black kingf5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4 white bishopf4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2b2c2d2e2 white rookf2g2h22
1a1b1 white kingc1d1e1f1g1h11
abcdefgh
Once the e4-bishop moves, it isdiscovered check by the rook.

discovered check
A discovered attack to the king. This occurs when a player moves a piece, resulting in another piece putting their opponent's king in check.[131][132][133]
diversionary sacrifice
Especially in themiddlegame, thesacrifice of adecoy piece.[134]
domination
Fromendgame studies, control of all movement squares of an enemy piece.[135]
double attack
Twoattacks made with one move: these attacks may be made by the same piece (in which case it is afork); or by different pieces, for example in adiscovered attack when the moved piece also makes a threat.[122]
double check
Acheck delivered by two pieces at the same time. A double check necessarily involves adiscovered check. By its nature a double check cannot be met by interposing a defending piece in a line of attack, or by capturing an attacker; when subjected to a double check, the attacked king must move. This makes the double check especially powerful as an attacking tactic.[136]
doubled pawns
Twopawns of the same color on the samefile; generally considered a weakness due to their inability to defend each other.[129]
doubled rooks
A powerful configuration in which a player's two rooks are placed on the samefile orrank with no othermen between them. They defend each other and attack along the shared file or rank, as well as two additional ranks or files. The configuration can be especially decisive in theendgame.[137]
double fianchetto
A player'sking bishop andqueen bishop have both beenfianchettoed.[138]
draw
A game that ends without victory for either player. Most drawn games aredraws by agreement. The other ways that a game can end in a draw are bystalemate, by adead position, by thethreefold repetition rule, by thefifty-move rule, by thefivefold repetition rule, and by theseventy-five-move rule. A position is said to be a draw (or a "drawn position" or "theoretical draw") if either player can, through correct play, eventually force the game into a position where the game must end in a draw, regardless of the moves made by the other player. A draw is usually scored as ½ point, although in some matches only wins are counted and draws are ignored.[122]
draw by agreement
A game that is ended by both players' accepting a draw.[139]
See also:resign

draw 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).[140]
drawing line
Anopeningvariation that commonly ends in adraw.[141]
drawing weapon
An openingline played with the intent of drawing the game.[142]
drawish
An adjective describing a position or game that is likely to end in adraw.[143]
draw odds
A type of chesshandicap where one player (Black in anArmageddon game) has only to draw in order to win the match.[144]
draw offer
A proposal by a player to the opponent that the game bedrawn by agreement.[145]
dynamism
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 orspatial weaknesses. Dynamism stemmed from the teachings of theHypermodern school and challenged the dogma found in more classical teachings, such as those put forward byWilhelm Steinitz andSiegbert Tarrasch.[146]

E

[edit]
eat
[slang] To remove the opponent'spiece orpawn from the board by taking it with one's own piece or pawn.[147][148] Synonym:capture.
ECF
The English Chess Federation (ECF) is the governing chess organisation in England and is one of the federations of theFIDE. It was known as the British Chess Federation (BCF) until 2005 when it was renamed.
ECO
TheEncyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO), a standard and comprehensivechess opening reference. AlsoECOcode, a classification system for openings that assigns an alphanumeric code from A00 to E99 to each opening.
ECU
The European Chess Union (ECU) is the continental association for chess in Europe.
edge
A small but meaningful advantage in the position against one's opponent. It is often said White has anedge in thestarting position, since White moves first (seeFirst-move advantage in chess).[149]
      Cf.initiative.
eighth rank
Therank on which pawnspromote (rank eight for White; rank one for Black). Also calledlast rank.
Elo rating system
The Elo rating system is a method for calculating the relative skill levels of chess players, named afterArpad Elo. Since 2012,FIDE publishes a monthly international chess rating list using the Elo system.[150]
endgame
The third and last phase of the game, when there are few pieces left on the board. The endgame follows themiddlegame.[150]
endgame tablebase
A computerized database ofendgames with a small number of pieces, providingperfect 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.[151]
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7d7 black pawne7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6 black crossf6g6h66
5a5b5c5 black pawnd5 white pawne5 black pawnf5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2e2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
After 1.d4 c5 2.d5 e5, White can play 3.dxe6, capturing the e-pawnen passant on the next move. The white pawn is placed on e6, and the black pawn on e5 is removed from the board.

en passant ("e.p.")
[from French, "in the act of passing"] The rule that allows apawn that has just advanced two squares to be captured by an enemy pawn that is on the samerank and adjacentfile. The pawn can be taken as if it had advanced only one square. Capturingen passant is possible only on the next move.[152]
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8h8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6 black knightg6h66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4 white pawnf4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3 white knightg3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1h1 white rook1
abcdefgh
The pawn on e4 isen prise.

en prise
[from French, "in a position to be taken",[153][154] often italicized]En prise describes a piece or pawn exposed to a material-winning capture by the opponent. This is either ahanging piece, an undefendedpawn, 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-pawnen prise.[22][155]
e.p.
An abbreviation foren passant.
epaulette mate
Acheckmate position where the king is blocked on both sides by its own rooks.[156]
EPD
An abbreviation forExtended Position Description.
equalize
Orequalise. To reach a position where the players have equal chances of winning, referred to asequality, or a position that isequal. In theopening, because White has theadvantage of the first move, the immediate goal for Black is to achieve equality.[157]
escape square
Seeflight square.
evaluation
Or simplyeval. The analysis of a position. A computer or engine evaluation is a means of assigning a number value to a position, based not on intelligence, but on algorithms, which vary from engine to engine and depend on engine strength. Engine evaluations have foibles and imperfections even when functioning as designed. If an engine describes a position as +2.50, the plus sign ("+") indicates the position is favorable to White; a minus sign ("−") indicates the position is favorable to Black. The number can correspond to the approximate value of pieces, although engines use other factors besidesmaterial. The notation +2.50 indicates that White is ahead by two and one-half pawns. The notation +M4 (or sometimes #4) indicates that White can force checkmate in four moves.[158][159][160]
      Cf.analysis.
exchange
To swap or trade pieces bycapture. Usually the pieces are of equal value (i.e., rook for rook, knight for knight, etc.), or of bishop for knight (two pieces that are considered approximately equal in value). Although some writers[161][162] define an exchange to always be of equal value, most writers[163][164] do not.[165][166]
exchange, the
The advantage of a rook over aminor 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". Anexchange sacrifice is giving up a rook for a minor piece.[22]
exchange variation
This is a type ofopening in which there is an early, voluntary exchange of pawns or pieces.[167]
exhibition
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 usechess clocks. In asimultaneous exhibition, one player takes on a number of opponents at once, and it is often nottimed. A blindfold exhibition is the same but more challenging, since the exhibitor plays without seeing the boards.[168]
expanded center
The central sixteen squares of thechessboard.[169]
exposed king
Aking lackingpawns to shield it from enemy attack.[170]
extended fianchetto
Seefianchetto.
Extended Position Description ("EPD")
AForsyth–Edwards Notation derivative format that contains the position on the chessboard, but not the game. It is primarily used to testchess engines.[171]

F

[edit]
family fork
A knightfork that simultaneously attacks the enemy king (givingcheck), queen, and possibly other pieces. Also known as afamily check.[172]
FAN
An abbreviation forfigurine algebraic notation, which substitutes symbols for letters to represent piece names (e.g. ♘f3 instead of Nf3).[173]
fast chess
A form of chess in which both sides are given less time to make their moves than under the normal tournamenttime controls.

FEN
An abbreviation forForsyth–Edwards Notation.
FGM
An abbreviation forFICGS Grandmaster.
fianchetto
Todevelop abishop to the board's longest diagonal on the file of the adjacent knight (b2 or g2 for White; b7 or g7 for Black). The fianchetto of both bishops by a player is called adouble fianchetto. Less common is to develop a bishop to the rook's file (a3 or h3 for White; a6 or h6 for Black), calledextended fianchetto.[138] The Italian word ("little flank") is pronounced/ˌfiənˈkɛtoʊ/ or/ˌfiənˈtʃɛtoʊ/ in English, while its name sounds like[fjaŋˈketto] in Italian.[174][175]
FICGS Grandmaster
Acorrespondence chess title calculated by the FICGS (Free Internet Correspondence Games Server) organization.[176]
FIDE
The World Chess Federation (Fédération Internationale des Échecs), the primary international chess organizing and governing body. The abbreviated name FIDE is nearly always used in place of the full name in French.[177]
FIDE Master ("FM")
A chess title ranking belowInternational Master.[178]
FIDE rating
SeeElo rating system.
fifty-move rule
Adraw may be claimed if no capture or pawn move has occurred in the last fifty moves by either side.[179] For the occurrence of seventy-five such moves, seeseventy-five-move rule.
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8d8e8f8 black circleg8h88
7a7b7c7d7e7f7 black circleg7h77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6 black circleg6h66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5 black circleg5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4 black circleg4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3 black circleg3h33
2a2b2c2d2e2f2 black circleg2h22
1a1b1c1d1e1f1 black circleg1h11
abcdefgh
Thef-file

file
A column of squares of thechessboard. A specific file can be named either using its position inalgebraic notation, a–h, or by using its position indescriptive notation. For example, "f-file" and "king bishop file" both denote the squares f1–f8 (or KB1–KB8 in descriptive notation).[177]
fingerfehler
[from German, "finger mistake"] 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 thetouch-move rule.[180]
first board
In team chess, the player who is assigned to face the strongest opponents. Also calledtop board andboard 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-move advantage
The slight (by most accounts) advantage thatWhite has by virtue of moving first.[177]
first player
The expression "the first player" is sometimes used to refer toWhite.
first rank
Seehome rank.
Fischer delay
Atime control method withtime delay, invented byBobby Fischer. When it becomes a player's turn to move, the delay is added to the player's remaining time.[181]
Fischerandom
The name given byBobby Fischer for thevariation of chess he invented. SeeChess960.
Fischer Random Chess
SeeChess960.
fish
[derogatory slang] A weak or easily defeated player or players.
See also:woodpusher

fivefold repetition
A game is drawn if the same position occurs five times, with specific meaning of occurrence as underthreefold repetition.[182]
five-minute chess
Seeblitz chess.
flag
Part of an analoguechess 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 thetime control.[177]
flag-fall
The event when the allotted time of a player has just expired; the player has run out of time.[183]
flank
Thequeenside a-, b-, and c-files; or thekingside f-, g-, and h-files. Distinguished from thecenter d- and e-files.[184][185] Also calledwing.
flank opening
Anopening played byWhite and typified by play on one or bothflanks.[186]
flight square
A square to which a piece can move, that allows it to escape attack.[172] Also calledescape square.
See also:luft

FM
An abbreviation forFIDE Master.
FOA
An abbreviation for theFIDE Online Arena.
An example ofFool's mate

Fool's mate
The shortest possible chess game ending inmate: 1.f3 e5 2.g4 Qh4# (or minor variations on this).[187]
forced mate
A sequence of two or more moves culminating incheckmate that the opponent cannot prevent.[188]
forced move
A move that is the only one to not result in a serious disadvantage for the moving player.Forced can also be used to describe a sequence of moves for which the player has no viable alternative, for example "the forced win of a piece" or "a forced checkmate". In these cases the player cannot avoid the loss of a piece or checkmate, respectively.[187]
      Cf.forcing move.
forced win
Awin guaranteed by a series offorcing moves.
forcing move
A move that presents a threat and limits the opponent's responses.[189]
      Cf.forced move.
forfeit
Refers to losing the game by breaking rules, by absence or by exceeding thetime control (forfeit on time).[190]
fork
A simultaneous attack by a single piece on two (or more) of the opponent's pieces (or other direct target, such as amate threat). When the attacker is aknight the tactic is often specifically called aknight fork. Some sources state that only a knight can give a fork and that the termdouble attack is correct when another piece is involved, but this usage is rare.[5]
Forsyth–Edwards Notation ("FEN")
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.[191][192]
fortress
Inendgame theory, a fortress is an impenetrable position which, if obtained by the side with a material disadvantage, may result in adraw due to the stronger side's inability to make progress.[193]
frame
A square region of the board enclosing another region not part of the given frame, akin to apicture frame. Also referred to as aring.[194] 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.[195] The notion of the frame may be expanded to include thecenter itself as the innermost frame. Themobility of pieces is closely related to the frame on which they stand. In general, a piece closer to the center has greater freedom of movement than a piece closer to the edge of the board.
friendly game
A game that is not played as part of amatch,tournament, orexhibition. Often the game is nottimed, but if achess 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.[196] Also calledcasual game andinformal game.
frontier line
An imaginary line dividing the board into two halves, passing between the fourth and fifthranks.[197][198] The frontier line separates White's side of the board from Black's side. Coined byNimzowitsch.[199][200]

G

[edit]
gambit
Asacrifice (usually of a pawn) used to gain an early advantage inspace ortime in theopening.[5]
See also:countergambit

game clock
Seechess clock.
game score
Often shortened toscore. The record of a game in some form ofnotation, usuallyalgebraic notation. Inover-the-board tournaments, the game score is recorded on ascore sheet.[201]
gardez
[fromFrench:gardez la reine!, "Protect the Queen!"] 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.[202]
GM
An abbreviation forGrandmaster.[203]
God
Metaphorical; a hypothetical player who always plays perfectly.[204]
good bishop
Abishop that has greater mobility, because the player's own pawns are on squares of color opposite to that of the bishop.[205]
      Cf.bad bishop.
Grandmaster ("GM")
The highest title a chess player can attain (besidesWorld Champion). Awarded byFIDE, the title is valid for life unless exceptional circumstances (such ascheating) occur.[206]
grandmaster draw
A game in which the players agree to a quickdraw. Originally it referred to such games betweengrandmasters, but the term can now refer to any such game.[206]
Greek gift sacrifice
A typical sacrifice of abishop by White playing Bxh7+ or by Black playing ...Bxh2+ against acastled king to initiate amating attack. Also known as theclassical bishop sacrifice.[207]

H

[edit]
half-open file
Afile on which only one player has pawns.[208] Also calledsemi-open file.
handicap
Seeodds.
hanging
[colloq.] Unprotected and exposed to capture. A hanging piece may also be said to been prise.[206]
hanging pawns
Twopawns of the same color on adjacentfiles, with no pawns of the same color on the files to either side of them.[206]
harmony
Seecoordination.
Harrwitz bishops
SeeHorwitz bishops.
Harry
A nickname for the h-pawn, sometimes occurring in the expression, "Harry the h-pawn".[209][210]
hauptturnier
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. The creation of thehauptturnier enabled the process to become more formalized, and they became a regular feature of the major German chess congresses. Winning such an event conferred the title of 'Master of the German Chess Federation', and this, in turn, could be used to gain admittance to prestigious international tournaments. Some of the best players in chess history, such asEmanuel Lasker andSiegbert Tarrasch, secured their Master titles and advanced their chess careers in this way.[211]
heavy piece
Seemajor piece.
abcdefgh
8a8b8 black kingc8d8e8f8g8h88
7a7 black pawnb7c7 black pawnd7e7f7g7h77
6a6 black circleb6 black pawnc6 black circled6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4 white pawne4 white circlef4 white pawng4h44
3a3b3c3 white pawnd3 white circlee3 white pawnf3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2f2g2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1b1c1d1e1f1g1 white kingh11
abcdefgh
The dots indicateholes.[212]

hole
A square that is inside or near a player's territory that cannot be controlled by a pawn. It is a gap in a player's pawn configuration, and especially dangerous when the hole is close to the center or near the king. A knight landing on a hole may be part of an attack. An example of a hole is the e4-square in theStonewall Attack.[213]
home rank
Therank on which the pieces stand in thestarting position (rank one for White; rank eight for Black).[214] Also calledback rank andfirst rank.
horizontal line
Seerank.
Horwitz vs. Harrwitz,
London 1846, rd. 10, 0–1[215]
abcdefgh
8a8b8 black rookc8d8e8f8g8h88
7a7 black pawnb7c7 black pawnd7e7f7g7h7 black king7
6a6b6 black bishopc6 black pawnd6 black pawne6f6g6 black rookh66
5a5b5c5d5 black bishope5 black pawnf5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3 white pawne3f3g3 white pawnh3 black queen3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2e2 white queenf2g2 white knighth2 white bishop2
1a1 white rookb1c1d1e1f1 white rookg1h1 white king1
abcdefgh
After 30.Qe2. Black'sHorwitz bishops are aimed at White's kingside.[216]

Horwitz bishops
A player'slight-square bishop anddark-square bishop placed so that they occupy adjacentdiagonals, creating a potent attack. Also calledraking bishops, and sometimesHarrwitz bishops.[217][218]
human move
A move a human would make, as opposed to the kind of move that only a computer would make.[219]
Hutton pairing
Apairing 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 forcorrespondence team events and for matches between many teams conducted on one day.[220] Also calledjamboree pairing.
hypermodernism
A school of thought that prefers controlling the center with pieces from theflanks as opposed to occupying it directly with pawns. Two major proponents of hypermodernism wereRichard Réti andAron Nimzowitsch.[221]
See also:classical

I

[edit]
IA
An abbreviation forInternational Arbiter.
ICCA
SeeInternational Correspondence Chess Federation.
ICCF
An abbreviation forInternational Correspondence Chess Federation.[222]
ICS
An abbreviation forInternet chess server.
IGM
An abbreviation for the older termInternational Grandmaster. The modern usage isGrandmaster (GM).
illegal move
A move that is not permitted by therules of chess. An illegal move discovered during the course of a game must be corrected.[223]
illegal position
1.  A position in a game that is a consequence of anillegal move or an incorrectstarting position
2.  A position that is impossible to reach by any sequence of legal moves.
[223]
IM
An abbreviation forInternational Master.[224]
imbalance
Any difference between the positions of White and Black. An imbalanced position is one where White and Black both have unique advantages. Conversely, a balanced position may bedrawish.[221]
inaccuracy
A move that is not the best, but not as bad as amistake orblunder.[224]
inactive
Seepassive.
in check
Seecheck.
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.[43]
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8f8 black rookg8 black kingh88
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black bishoph7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6 black pawne6f6 black knightg6 black pawnh66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4 white pawnd4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3 white knightg3 white pawnh33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white bishoph2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1f1 white rookg1 white kingh11
abcdefgh
In theKID Fianchetto Variation (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 d6 6.0-0), both sides haveIndian bishops.

Indian bishop
Afianchettoedbishop, characteristic of theIndian defenses, theKing's Indian and theQueen's Indian.[225]
Indian Defense
Anopening that begins 1.d4 Nf6. Originally used to describe queen's pawn defenses involving thefianchetto of one or both black bishops; now used to describe all Black defenses after 1.d4 Nf6 that do nottranspose into theQueen's Gambit.[226]
informal game
Seefriendly game.
initiative
The ability to make attacking moves, andforce the course of play. It is an aspect oftime. The attacking player has the initiative, and the defending player attempts to seize it.[227]
innovation
A synonym fortheoretical novelty.
insufficient material
Anendgame 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 cancheckmate, regardless of play. Situations where checkmate is possible only if the inferior sideblunders are covered by thefifty-move rule.[228]

interference
The interruption of the line or diagonal between an attacked piece and its defender byinterposing a piece.[227]
intermediate move
Seezwischenzug.
intermezzo
Seezwischenzug.
International Arbiter ("IA")
A tournament official who arbitrates disputes and performs other duties such as keeping thescore when players are undertime pressure.
International Correspondence Chess Federation
Organization founded in 1951 to replace the International Correspondence Chess Association (ICCA).[222]
International Grandmaster ("IGM")
The original name of theFIDE title, now simply calledGrandmaster ("GM")
International Master ("IM")
A chess title that ranks belowGrandmaster but aboveFIDE Master.
International Woman Master
Obsolete name forWoman International Master.
Internet chess server ("ICS")
An external server that provides the facility to play, discuss, and view chess over theInternet.
interpose
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 acheck.[5]
Interzonal tournament
A tournament organized by theFIDE starting from the 1950s to 1993. It was the second qualifying cycle of theWorld Chess Championship. The participants were selected from the top players of theZonal tournaments. The top-ranking players qualified for theCandidates Tournament. Since 1998 the winners of the zonal tournaments have played short matches against each other over a few weeks in aknockout-style competition to determine who is eligible for the Candidates Tournament.
IQP
An abbreviation for isolated queen pawn. Seeisolani.
irregular opening
Early 19th-century chess literature classified allopenings that did not begin with either 1.e4 e5 or 1.d4 d5 as "irregular". Asopening theory developed and many openings previously considered "irregular" became standard (e.g. theSicilian Defense), the term gradually became less common. Opening books today are more likely to describe debuts such as 1.b4 (theSokolsky Opening) as "uncommon" or "unorthodox".[229]
isolani
Refers to a d-pawn with no pawns of the same color on the adjacent c-file and e-file, and is a synonym forisolated queen pawn.Aron Nimzowitsch, who coined the term, regarded the isolani as a weapon of attack in themiddlegame but anendgame weakness; he saw the problem ofhanging pawns as related.[230]

isolated pawn
Apawn with no pawn of the same color on an adjacentfile.[231]
isolated queen pawn ("IQP")
Orisolated queen's pawn.
See also:isolani
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8c8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8g8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6 black knightd6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5 black bishopd5e5 black pawnf5g5h55
4a4b4c4 white bishopd4e4 white pawnf4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3 white knightg3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1g1h1 white rook1
abcdefgh
Italian bishops in the Giuoco Piano

Italian bishop
A whitebishop developed toc4 or a black bishop developed toc5. A bishop so developed is characteristic of theItalian Game. In theGiuoco Piano both players have Italian bishops. The Italian bishop stands in contrast to theSpanish bishop on b5 characteristic of theRuy Lopez. "Italian" may be used as an adjective for anopening where one or both players have Italian bishops.[232]

J

[edit]
j'adoube
(from French, "I adjust",pronounced[ʒa.dub]) The international signal of the intention to adjust the position of a piece on the board. When playing with thetouch-move rule, a player must say this in order to be able to touch a piece without being subject to thetouched piece rule. The verbadouber, literally "to dub" (raise to the knighthood), is rarely used in contemporary French outside of this context. A local language equivalent, e.g. "I am adjusting", is generally also acceptable.[5]

K

[edit]
K
Symbol used for theking when recording chess moves in English.[22]
key square
1.  An important square.
2.  In pawn endings, a square whose occupation by one side's king guarantees the achievement of a certain goal, such as thepromotion of a pawn or the win of a pawn.[228] Also calledcritical square.
KGA
The King's Gambit Acceptedopening.
KGD
The King's Gambit Declinedopening.
KIA
The King's Indian Attackopening.
kibitz
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 apost-mortem) is a serious breach of chess etiquette.[233]
kick
Attacking apiece, often aknight, with apawn, so that it will move. Kicking a piece may lead to gaining atempo, or may force the opponent to concede control ofkey squares.[233]
KID
The King's Indian Defenseopening.
king
The most important piece in chess. It may move to any adjacent square, and it maycastle. A king threatened withcapture is incheck; 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 incheckmate, and the player loses. If the player whose turn it is has no legal moves and their king is not in check, then it isstalemate, and the game is drawn.
king bishop
Orking's bishop. Thebishop that is on thekingside at the start of the game. Sometimes abbreviated "KB".[85]
king hunt
A sustainedattack on the enemyking that results in the king being driven a far distance from its initial position, typically resulting in itscheckmate. Some of the most famous games featuring king hunts areEdward Lasker–Thomas,Polugaevsky–Nezhmetdinov, and Kasparov–Topalov.[234] Also calledking chase.
king knight
Orking's knight. Theknight that is on thekingside at the start of the game. Sometimes abbreviated "KN".[85]
king pawn
Orking's pawn. Apawn on the king'sfile, i.e. the e-file. Sometimes abbreviated "KP". Alsoking bishop pawn (KBP),king knight pawn (KNP), andking rook pawn (KRP) for a pawn on the f-, g-, or h-file, respectively.[85]
king pawn opening
Orking's pawn opening. Anopening that begins 1.e4.
king rook
Orking's rook. Therook that is on thekingside at the start of the game. Sometimes abbreviated "KR".[85]
kingside
Orking's side. The side of the board (half-board) thekings are on at the start of the game (the e- through h-file), as opposed to thequeenside.[37] Also calledking's wing.
king walk
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.[235]
See also:King walk

knight
A piece that may move to any nearest square not on arank,file, ordiagonal 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 pawn
Orknight's pawn. Apawn on the knight'sfile, i.e. the b-file or g-file. Sometimes abbreviated "NP".[85]
Example of an openknight's tour

knight's tour
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. Aclosed tour (also known as are-entrant tour) ends on the same square on which it began and needs 64 moves. Anopen tour ends on a different square and needs only 63 moves.[236]
knockout tournament
SeeSingle-elimination tournament. A tournament conducted as a series ofmatches 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 includeLondon 1851 and the2007 Chess World Cup.
      Cf.round-robin tournament andSwiss tournament.
Kotov syndrome
This phenomenon, described byAlexander Kotov in his 1971 bookThink Like a Grandmaster, can occur when a player does not find a good plan after thinking long and hard on a position. The player, undertime 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.[237]
Kriegspiel
[from German, "war game"] Kriegspiel is achess 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. It is sometimes referred to asblind chess, not to be confused withblindfold chess.[238]
Kt
The symbol sometimes used for theknight when recording chess moves indescriptive notation, mainly in older literature. AnN is used instead inalgebraic notation and in later descriptive notation to avoid confusion withK, the symbol for theking.[22]

L

[edit]
last rank
Seeeighth rank.
laws of chess
The rules of chess.[183]
lightning chess
A form of chess with an extremely shorttime limit, eitherblitz chess orbullet chess.[239]
light-square bishop
Often shortened tolight bishop.[240] One of the twobishops that moves only on thelight squares. In thestarting position, White's light-square bishop is on f1; Black's is on c8.[228]
      Cf.dark-square bishop.
light squares
The 32 light-colored squares on the chessboard, such as h1 and a8.[241]
      Cf.dark squares.
line
1.  A sequence of moves, usually in theopening or in analyzing a position.
2.  An open path for a piece (queen, rook, or bishop) to move or control squares.[239]
line piece
A piece whose movement is defined to be along straight lines of squares (i.e. therook,bishop, andqueen).[242]
liquidation
Seesimplification.
long castling
Seecastling long.
long diagonal
One of the twodiagonals with eight squares (a1–h8 or h1–a8).[243]
long fianchetto
Afianchetto whereby theknight's pawn has advanced two squares (b4 or g4 for White; b5 or g5 for Black) instead of one.[138]
long-range piece
Abishop,rook, orqueen.
loose piece
A piece vulnerable to opponent attacks because it is undefended and cannot easily be withdrawn or supported.[244]
loose position
A position vulnerable to opponent attacks because it isoverextended or its pieces areuncoordinated.
losing a tempo
Seetempo.
loss
A defeat for one of the two players, which may occur due to that player beingcheckmated by the other player,resigning, exceeding thetime control, or beingforfeited by thetournament director. In chess, azero-sum game, this results in awin for the other player.[245]
abcdefgh
8a8b8 white kingc8d8 black kinge8f8g8h88
7a7b7 white pawnc7d7e7f7g7h77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 black rookb2c2d2e2f2g2h22
1a1b1c1 white rookd1e1f1g1h11
abcdefgh
Lucena position: White wins by 1.Rd1+ Ke7 2.Rd4! Ra1 3.Kc7 Rc1+ 4.Kb6 Rb1+ 5.Kc6 Rc1+ 6.Kb5 Rb1+ 7.Rb4 and the pawn queens.

Lucena position
A well-knownrook and pawn versus rook endgame position in which the player with the extra pawn can force a win by cutting off the opponent's king and placing a rook on the 4th rank in order to block the opponent's rook checks, thereby allowing the pawn toqueen.[57]
luft
[from German, "air"] Space made for acastled king to give it aflight square to prevent aback-rank mate. Usually luft is made by moving apawn on the secondrank in front of the king.[246]
See also:flight square

M

[edit]
main line
The principal, most important, or most often playedvariation of anopening.[247]
majority
A larger number of pawns on oneflank opposed by a smaller number of the opponent's; often a player with a majority on one flank has a minority on the other.[248] Acentral pawn majority is a larger number of pawns on thecenter files.
major piece
Aqueen orrook, also known as aheavy piece.[249] The primary distinction of major pieces versusminor 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. On an otherwise empty board, a major piece can move from any square to any other square in at most two moves.
man
Apiece or apawn, when the term "piece" is used as exclusive of pawns.[250]
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8c8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7d7 black pawne7 black pawnf7 black pawng7h7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6 black knightd6e6f6g6 black pawnh66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4 white pawnd4 white knighte4 white pawnf4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1h1 white rook1
abcdefgh
A typicalMaróczy Bind position

Maróczy Bind
Abind on the light squares in thecenter, particularly d5, obtained by White by placing pawns on c4 and e4. Named forGéza Maróczy, it originally referred to formations arising in some variations of theSicilian Defense, but the name is now also applied to similar setups in theEnglish Opening and theQueen's Indian Defense. It was once greatly feared by Black but means of countering it have been developed since the 1980s and earlier.[251]
master
Loosely, a strong chess player who would be expected to beat most amateurs. It may also refer to a formal title such asInternational Master orNational Master. Standards vary, but a master will usually have anElo rating of over 2200.[252]
match
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 aknockout tournament or team tournament. A match between individuals usually consists of several games, continuing until one of the players has achieved either a set score or a set number of wins.[252]
mate
Short forcheckmate.[253]
material
A player's pieces and pawns on the board. The player with pieces and pawns of total greater value is said to have amaterial advantage. Gaining a material advantage is calledwinning material.[254] SeeChess piece relative value.
materialism
Playstyle characterized by a willingness to winmaterial at the expense of positional considerations. Chess engines historically were often materialistic.[255]
mating attack
An attack aimed atcheckmating the enemyking.[256]
mating net
A position or series of moves that leads toforced mate.[256]
MCO
Modern Chess Openings, a popularchess opening reference. Often the edition is also given, as inMCO-14, the 14th edition.
      Cf.ECO.
middlegame
The part of a chess game that follows theopening and comes before theendgame, beginning after the pieces are developed in the opening. This is usually roughly moves 20 through 40.[254]
miniature
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,[257] because the queen is trapped. However, some authors include games up to 30 moves.[258] Usually only decisive games (not draws) are considered miniatures. Ideally, a miniature should not be spoiled by an obviousblunder by the losing side. A miniature may also qualify as abrilliancy. TheOpera Game is a famous example. Sometimes called abrevity [chiefly British].[54]

minor exchange
The exchange of abishop for aknight.[259]
minority
A smaller number of pawns on oneflank opposed by a larger number of the opponent's; often a player with a minority on one flank has a majority on the other.[248]
minority attack
An advance ofpawns on the side of the board where one has fewer pawns than the opponent, an attack strategy usually carried out to provoke a weakness.[254]
minor piece
Abishop orknight.[254] Unlikemajor pieces, minor pieces are unable to contain the enemy king or block his advance alone, as he can simply pass through the holes in their line of attack. Compared to major pieces, minor pieces also find it difficult to navigate the entire board; a knight may require four moves to reach a square two squares away, while a bishop can only ever control half of all squares.
Mistake
A bad move (indicated by "?" in chessannotation).
mobile pawn center
Pawns oncentral squares able to advance without becoming weak.[260]
mobility
The ability of a piece(s) to move around the board. Havingspace.[254]
move
1.  A turn taken by one of the players, moving a piece to a new square (sometimes with thecapture of an opponent's piece or thepromotion of a pawn) orcastling.[261]
2.  A turn by both players, White and Black: for example, in the context of the50-move rule, or when referring to the duration or stage of a game (as in "the position after move 15" or "the game ended after 27 moves"). A turn by either White or Black may then be called a half-move, or (in computer contexts) oneply.[261]
move order
The sequence of moves one chooses to play anopening 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.[262]
See also:transposition

mysterious rook move
Coined byNimzowitsch 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). The meaning of the word has since expanded to refer to any rook move that appears to have a hidden purpose.[263][264]

N

[edit]
N
1.  Symbol used for theknight when recording chess moves in English.
2.  An abbreviation fornovelty.
NCO
An abbreviation forNunn's Chess Openings, achess openings reference.
      Cf.ECO andMCO.
NN
Traditionally used ingame 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 Latinnomina ("names"), or it may be short for the Latin phrasenomen nescio ("name unknown").[265] SometimesN.N.
norm
A step toward earning achess title, such asGrandmaster orInternational 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. The score necessary to qualify for a norm depends on the strength of the tournament. In practice, three norms are usually required for a title, though regulations have varied over the years.[62][266]
notation
Any method of recording chess moves, allowing games to be later published, replayed and analyzed. The most common notation today isalgebraic notation, which is used internationally. Formerlydescriptive notation was standard in English language publications. There are also systems of notation for recording chess positions without the use of diagrams, the most common of which isForsyth–Edwards Notation (FEN).[267]
      Cf.annotation.
novelty
Seetheoretical novelty.

O

[edit]
occupation
Occupation of a rank or file means a rook or queen controls it; occupation of a square means a piece or pawn sits on it.[268]
octopus
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.[269]
odds
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 inmaterial, in extra moves, in time on theclock, or some combination of those elements. Since the advent of the chess clock, time odds have become more common than material odds.[270]
offhand game
Seeskittles.
Olympiad
An international team chess tournament organized biennially byFIDE. Each team represents a FIDE member country.
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2e2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
The e-file isopen in theFrench Defense, Exchange Variation after 3.exd5 exd5.

open file
Afile on which there are nopawns.[5]
      Cf.half-open file.
open game
A game in which exchanges have opened files and diagonals, and there are few pawns in the center, as opposed to aclosed game.[271]

Open Game
Anyopening that begins with the moves 1.e4 e5. Examples of Open Games include theRuy Lopez, theGiuoco Piano, theDanish Gambit, and many others. The Open Game is also referred to as aDouble King's Pawn Opening orDouble King's Pawn Game.
      Cf.Closed Game.

opening
The beginning phase of the game, roughly the first dozen moves, but it can extend much farther. In the opening players set up theirpawn structures,develop their pieces, and usuallycastle. The opening precedes themiddlegame.[271]
opening innovation
A synonym fortheoretical novelty.
opening preparation
Home study and analysis ofopenings 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 fortheoretical novelties that improve upon previous play or previously published analysis.[272]
opening repertoire
The set ofopenings played by a particular player. The breadth of different players' repertoires varies from very narrow to very broad.[273]
opening system
Anopening 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 ofmiddlegame position. Sometimes several differentmove orders are possible. Examples include theColle System andHippopotamus Defense.[274]
open lines
1.  n. Unobstructedfiles anddiagonals.
See also:open game
2.  v. To move or exchange pawns to bring about unobstructed files and diagonals.
open tournament
A tournament where anyone can enter, regardless of rating or invitation.[275]
      Cf.closed tournament.
opposite castling
Oropposite-side castling. Describes when one player has castledkingside and the opponent has castledqueenside.
opposite-colored bishops
Seebishops on opposite colors.
opposition
A position in which two kings stand on the same rank, file, or diagonal with one empty square between them. The player to move may be forced to move the king to a less advantageous square. Opposition is a particularly important concept inendgames.[276] One orthogonal square separation isdirect opposition; one diagonal square isdiagonal opposition; multiple squares separation isdistant opposition.
      Cf.corresponding squares.
optimal play
SeeBest 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.
      Cf.Solved game#Perfect play
OTB
An abbreviation forover the board.[277]
outpost
An outpost is a square protected by a pawn that is in or near the enemy's stronghold. Outposts are a favorable position from which one can launch an attack, particularly using a knight.[278]
outside passed pawn
Apassed pawn near the edge of the board and not in the path of threats from the opponent's pawns. In theendgame, such a pawn can constitute a strong advantage, because it threatens to promote, and it also diverts the opponent's forces to restrain its advance.[279]
overextended
An 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").[280][281]
overloaded
A piece that has too many defensive duties. An overloaded piece can sometimes bedeflected, or required to abandon one of its defensive duties.[282]
overprotection
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.Aron Nimzowitsch coined the term and was a proponent of overprotection.[283]
over the board
1.  An over-the-board game is played face to face with the opponent, as opposed to a remote opponent as inonline chess orcorrespondence chess.
2.  Analysis carried out during a game in real time (not necessarily a face-to-face game) as opposed to duringpreparation. Finding accurate moves over the board is harder than finding them with computer assistance in one's own time. "I looked up thegambit Smith played and there's aline thatrefutes it, but I couldn't find it over the board."[277]
Abbr. OTB.
overworked
Seeoverloaded.[280][284][281]

P

[edit]
P
Symbol used for thepawn when recording chess positions in English; a lowercasep is typically used for a Black pawn. Also used for the pawn when recording chess moves indescriptive notation, e.g. P-K4.
paired bishops
Seebishop pair.
pairing
The assignment of opponents in atournament. The most common pairing methods used in chess tournaments areround-robin and theSwiss system.[285]
passar battaglia
[from Italian, "to dodge the fight"] The former rule that a pawn could evade capture by an opposing pawn by its initial two-square advance, in contrast to theen passant rule.Passar battaglia remained the practice in several parts of Europe long afteren passant was introduced, and it was not completely abandoned until 1880 when Italy adopted theen passant rule.[286]
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8d8e8 black kingf8g8h88
7a7b7 white pawnc7d7e7f7 black pawng7h77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6 black knightg6 black pawnh66
5a5 black pawnb5c5d5 black pawne5f5g5h55
4a4 white pawnb4c4d4e4 white pawnf4g4h44
3a3b3c3 white bishopd3e3f3g3h33
2a2b2c2d2 white kinge2f2g2h22
1a1b1c1d1e1f1g1h11
abcdefgh
White with apassed pawn on b7. Black has apassed pawn on g6. The black pawn on f7 is not passed because the white pawn on e4 is adjacent and can threaten it.

passed pawn
Apawn that has no pawn of the opposite color on itsfile or on an adjacent file to challenge or threaten its potential forqueening.[231]
passer
Apassed pawn.[287]
passive
Describes apiece or pawn that is inactive and able to move to or control relatively few squares, or a position without possibilities forattack orcounterplay.[283]
      Antonym:active.
passive sacrifice
Thesacrifice of a piece, by moving a different piece, leaving the sacrificed piece under attack.
pattern recognition
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 ofcalculation. It uses intuitive thinking that is familiar to humans, but is foreign to computers. It can be developed by studyingchess puzzles. It has been studied byAdriaan de Groot, and other scientists, who have attempted to discover how chess players think.[288][289]
patzer
A weak chess player (fromGerman:patzen, "to bungle").[290]
See also:woodpusher

pawn
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 captureen passant. Upon reaching its eighthrank, it ispromoted to a same-coloredqueen,rook,bishop, orknight.
pawn and move
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.[291]
pawn break
A pawn move that attacks an enemy pawn in order to open uplines or challenge the opponent'spawn structure.
See also:break
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8f8 black rookg8 black kingh88
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black bishoph7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6 black pawne6f6 black knightg6 black pawnh66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4 white pawnd4 white pawne4 white pawnf4 white pawng4h44
3a3b3c3 white knightd3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2f2g2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1c1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
White has a largepawn center in theKing's Indian Defense, Four Pawns Attack.
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8c8 black bishopd8e8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7d7e7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6 black queenc6 black knightd6e6 black pawnf6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5 white pawnf5g5h55
4a4b4c4 black pawnd4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3 white pawnb3c3 white pawnd3e3f3 white knightg3h33
2a2b2 white pawnc2d2e2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1h1 white rook1
abcdefgh

pawn center
Orpawn centre. A player'spawns in thecenter 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 thehypermodernist school introduced some new ideas.[292] Often shortened tocenter. SeeKing's Indian Defense, Four Pawns Attack for an example of an opening leading to an extended pawn center.
pawn chain
Two or more pawns of the same color diagonally linked. A pawn chain's weakest point is the base because it is not protected by another pawn.[283]
Lichtenhein vs. Morphy, 1857
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8c8d8 black queene8 black kingf8g8h8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7c7 black pawnd7 black bishope7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6 black pawnd6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5 black bishopd5 black pawne5 white pawnf5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4 white bishopf4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2e2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1g1h1 white rook1
abcdefgh
Black has threepawn islands and White has two. The pawn on e5 is not isolated because it is adjacent to a file that has a white pawn.

pawn island
A group ofpawns 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 anisolated pawn.[293]
pawn majority
Seemajority.
pawn minority
Seeminority.
pawn race
A situation where both opponents arepushing apassed pawn in effort to be first topromote.
pawn roller
Twoconnectedpassed pawns. "Roller" refers to their ability to defend one another as they advance towardpromotion.
pawn skeleton
Seepawn structure.
pawn storm
An attacking technique where a group of pawns on one wing is advanced to break up the defense.[294]
pawn structure
The placement of the pawns during the course of a game. As pawns are the least mobile of the pieces and the only pieces unable to move backwards, the position of the pawns greatly influences the character of the game.[295] Also calledpawn skeleton.
PCA
An abbreviation for Professional Chess Association.
performance rating ("PR")
A number reflecting the approximaterating level at which a player performed in a particulartournament ormatch. 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 opponent's rating for a loss, then dividing by the total number of games. For example, a player who beat a 2400-rated player, lost to a 2600, drew a 2500, and beat a 2300, would have a performance rating of 2550 (i.e. 2800 + 2200 + 2500 + 2700, divided by 4).[296]
perpetual check
Often shortened toperpetual. When a player puts the opponent in check and the check could be repeated endlessly, the game will be declared a draw byrepetition. This tactic can be resorted to as a form of insurance in a losing position.[297]
PGN
An abbreviation forPortable Game Notation.[298]
Philidor position
Usually refers to an important chessendgame that illustrates a drawing technique when the defender has a king and rook versus a king, rook, and pawn. It is also known as the third rank defense, because of the importance of the rook on the third rank cutting off the opposing king. It was analyzed by Philidor in 1777.[299]

Philidor sacrifice
Thesacrifice of aminor piece for one or two pawns for greater pawn mobility as compensation.[300]
piece
1.  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 ofrules of chess – for example, thetouched piece rule.
2.  When annotating or discussing chess games, the term "piece" usually excludespawns. It may be used collectively for all "non-pawns" – for example, "White's pieces are well-posted." In some contexts, it may refer specifically to aminor piece – for example, "White is up two pieces for a rook."[301]
pin
When a piece is attacked but cannot legally move, because doing so would expose the player's own king tothe attack ("absolute pin"); or when a piece is attacked andcan legally move out of the line of attack, but such a move would expose a more valuable piece (or an unprotected piece) tocapture ("relative pin").[261]
playable
Said of anopening, a position, or move that affords the person playing it a tenable position.[302]
play by hand
To make a move intuitively and without analyzing the move.[303]
ply
Term mainly used incomputer chess to denote one play of either White or Black. Thus equal to half amove.
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8e8 black kingf8 black bishopg8h8 black rook8
7a7b7 black pawnc7d7e7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black pawnb6c6d6 black pawne6 black pawnf6 black knightg6h66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5 white bishoph55
4a4b4c4d4 white knighte4 white pawnf4 white pawng4h44
3a3b3c3 white knightd3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 black queenc2 white pawnd2 white queene2f2g2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1c1d1e1 white kingf1 white bishopg1h1 white rook1
abcdefgh
Black has accepted thepoisoned b2-pawn with 8...Qxb2 in theSicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation.

poisoned pawn
An unprotected pawn that, if captured, causespositional problems ormaterial loss.[293]
Poisoned Pawn Variation
Any of several openingvariations, the best-known of these being in theNajdorf Variation of theSicilian Defense, in which there is apoisoned pawn.[304]
Portable Game Notation ("PGN")
This is a popular computer-processibleASCII format for recording chess games (both the moves and related data).[298] There are import and export versions: the import version is lax, while the export version is not.
position
"The disposition of pieces and pawns, of one or both colours, at any stage of the game or as set in acomposition."[305] 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 calledlevel orequal orbalanced. The position of chessmen at the beginning of a game is called anarray.[306]
positional play
Play based on strategy, on gaining and exploiting small advantages, and on analyzing the larger position, rather than calculating the more immediatetactics.[293]
      Cf.antipositional.
positional player
A player who specializes inpositional play, as distinguished from atactician.[citation needed]
positional sacrifice
Asacrifice in which the lost material is not regained via acombination, but instead gains positionalcompensation. These typically require deep positional understandingand are often overlooked by computers[dubious –discuss]. Also known as atrue sacrifice, as opposed to apseudo sacrifice orsham sacrifice.[citation needed]
postal chess
Seecorrespondence chess.
post mortem
Analysis of a game after it has concluded, typically by one or both players and sometimes with spectators (kibitzers) contributing as well. A player who has just lost the game thanks to a dubious move has the chance to "win the post-mortem" by finding a better one.[293]
PR
An abbreviation forperformance rating.
premove
Inonline 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.[307]
preparation
Seeopening preparation.
prepared variation
A well-analyzednovelty in theopening that is not published but first used against an opponent in competitive play.[308]
Principle of two weaknesses
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.[309]
priyome
A Russian term for particular tactics that depend on pawn structure.[310]
problem-like
An elegant and counterintuitive tacticalshot, of the type generally found inchess problems rather than in actual play, can be termed problem-like.
promotion
Advancing apawn to theeighth rank, converting it to a queen, rook, bishop, or knight. Promotion to a piece other than a queen is calledunderpromotion.[261]
prophylaxis
A strategy that frustrates and protects against an opponent's plan or tactic for fear of the consequences.[293]

protected passed pawn
Apassed pawn that is supported by another pawn.[311]
protection
A piece is protected when another friendly piece controls its square. This somewhat protects the first piece fromcapture, as there is the option to recapture. This is especially effective if theattacking piece is of greater value than thethreatened piece.
pruning
Chess engines usually include an algorithm to eliminate certain moves from consideration, assuming that they areblunders 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.Alpha–beta pruning is considered a form of backward pruning, which does not risk overlooking the best move.
pseudo sacrifice
Seesham sacrifice.
push
1.  v. To move apawn forward.
2.  n. A pawn move forward.

Q

[edit]
Q
Symbol used for thequeen when recording chess moves in English.[22]
QGA
The Queen's Gambit Acceptedopening.[312]
QGD
The Queen's Gambit Declinedopening.[313]
QID
The Queen's Indian Defenseopening.[314]
quad
Around-robin style tournament between four players, where each participant plays every other participant once.
queen
1.  n. A piece that may move alongranks,files, anddiagonals without jumping.
2.  v. Topromote a pawn.
queen bishop
Orqueen's bishop. Thebishop that is on thequeenside at the start of the game. Sometimes abbreviated "QB".[315]
queening
Promotion to aqueen.[85] Also calledpromoting. Rarely used to indicate promotion to a knight, rook, or bishop (i.e.underpromotion) as well.[231]
queen knight
Orqueen's knight. Theknight that is on thequeenside at the start of the game. Sometimes abbreviated "QN".[85]
queen pawn
Orqueen's pawn. Apawn on the queen'sfile, i.e. the d-file. Sometimes abbreviated "QP". Alsoqueen rook pawn (QRP),queen knight pawn (QNP), andqueen bishop pawn (QBP) for a pawn on the a-, b-, or c-file, respectively.[85]
queen pawn opening
Orqueen's pawn opening. Anopening that begins 1.d4.
queen rook
Orqueen's rook. Therook that is on thequeenside at the start of the game. Sometimes abbreviated "QR".[85]
queenside
Orqueen's side. The side of the board (board-half) thequeens are on at the start of the game (the a- through d-file), as opposed to thekingside.[37] Also calledqueen's wing.
question
Usually in the form "put the question to [a piece]", toforce the opponent to commit to a strategic decision regarding the future of a piece. Most commonly used to refer to a one-square advance of arook's pawn to attack a bishop that ispinning or pressuring a knight, forcing the opponent to decide whether to retreat the bishop or exchange it for the knight. "Putting the question to the bishop" may resolve the pin, but can also weaken the player'spawn structure. This usage originates in Aron Nimzowitsch'sMy System (1925).[316]
quickplay finish
The same assudden death.[317]
quiet move
A move that does not attack or capture an enemy piece.[318]

R

[edit]
R
Symbol used for therook when recording chess moves in English.[22]
Rabar Classification
A system ofopening classification codes introduced byBraslav Rabar forChess Informant. The system was used by Informant publications from 1966 to 1981 but has since been replaced byECO codes.[319]
raking bishops
Another term forHorwitz bishops.[320]
randomized 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."[321]
See also:Fischerandom
abcdefgh
8a8 eightb8c8d8 black queene8 black kingf8g8h8 one8
7a7 sevenb7c7d7 black pawne7 black pawnf7g7h7 two7
6a6 sixb6c6d6e6f6g6h6 three6
5a5 fiveb5c5d5e5f5g5h5 four5
4a4 fourb4c4d4e4f4g4h4 five4
3a3 threeb3c3d3e3f3g3h3 six3
2a2 twob2c2d2 white pawne2 white pawnf2g2h2 seven2
1a1 oneb1c1d1 white queene1 white kingf1g1h1 eight1
abcdefgh
White'sranks are indicated on the left (a-file); Black's relative reference toranks are indicated on the right (h-file).

rank
A row of squares of thechessboard. Inalgebraic notation, ranks are numbered 1–8 starting from White's side of the board; however, players customarily refer to ranks from their own perspectives. For example: White's king and other pieces start on their first (or "back" or "home") rank, whereas Black calls the same rank the "eighth" (or last) rank; White's seventh rank is Black's second; and so on. If neither perspective is given, White's view is assumed. This relative reference to ranks was formalized in the olderdescriptive notation.[322]
rapid chess
A form of chess with reduced time limit, usually 30 minutes per player. Also calledactive chess andaction chess.[323]
rating
SeeElo rating system.
recapture
Thecapture 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 samevalue.
refute
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 abust. A refutation in the context of chess problems or endgame studies is often called acook.[324]
related squares
Seecorresponding squares.
relative pin
Apin where it is legal to move the pinned piece out of the line of attack. The piece is not pinned therefore to the king, but instead to some other piece. Contrast withabsolute pin where the pinned piece isnot permitted to move, because the piece it is pinned to is the king.
remis
[from French] Adraw. It literally means "reset" and is somewhat archaic (the usual word for a draw in modern French isnulle), but is internationally understood and may be used between players without a common language.
repertoire
Seeopening repertoire.
reply
Any move by Black after a move by White, or vice versa.
reserve tempo
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.[325]
resign
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 withcheckmate, because experienced players can foresee the checkmate.[326][327] However, under FIDE Laws, a player's resignation results in a draw if there is no sequence of legal moves that could lead to their opponent checkmating them.[328]
resign on time
A player who intentionally runs out of time to avoid having to resign in a hopeless position can be said to haveresigned on time. This is usually performed in a more subtle manner than that ofCurt von Bardeleben walking out of the tournament hall againstWilhelm Steinitz. A player low on time and in a losing position may simply "forget" to pay any attention to the clock. Resigning on time when a considerable amount of time is left is called "stalling" and is often considered to be an example of bad sportsmanship.
reverse opening
Seecolors reversed.
Romantic chess
Romantic chess was the style of chess prevalent in the 19th century. It is characterized by bold attacks and sacrifices.[329]
rook
A piece that may move alongranks andfiles without jumping.
rook lift
A maneuver that places arook in front of its ownpawns, often on the third or fourthrank. This can allow the rook to treat ahalf-open file as if it were anopen file, or aclosed file as if it were half-open.[330]
rook pawn
Orrook's pawn. Apawn on the rook'sfile, i.e. the a-file or h-file. Sometimes abbreviated "RP".[85]
round-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.[331]

royal fork
Afork threatening the king and queen, typically performed with a knight.[332]
royal piece
Aking orqueen.[85] Inchess variants, the term refers to any piece that must be protected from capture; under this definition, only the king is royal in orthodox chess.

S

[edit]
S
[fromGerman:Springer, "jumper"] Alternative notation for theknight. Used rather thanK, which meansking.
sac
Short forsacrifice, usually used to describe a sacrifice for amating attack.[331]
sacrifice
A move or capture that voluntarily gives up material in return for an advantage such as space, development, or an attack. A sacrifice in theopening is called agambit, especially when applied to a pawn.[326]
SAN
An abbreviation for standardalgebraic notation or short algebraic notation (e.g. 1.Nf3), as opposed tolong algebraic notation (e.g. 1.Ng1-f3).
sans voir
[from French] Seeblindfold chess.
scalp
[slang] To defeat a much higher-ranked player, especially a titled player.
An example ofScholar's mate

Scholar's mate
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#.[187]
score
1.  The recorded moves in a game. Seegame score.
2.  A player's score in a match or tournament, which is almost always 1 point for each win and ½ point for each draw. SeeChess scoring.
Ascore sheet

score sheet
The sheet of paper used to record a game in progress. During formal games, it is usual for both players to record the game using a score sheet. A completed score sheet contains thegame score.[201]
sealed move
To prevent unfair advantage when anOTB game isadjourned, 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, thearbiter 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. Adjournments and sealed moves are no longer standard practice.

second
An assistant hired to help a player in preparation for and during a major match or tournament. The second assists in areas such asopening preparation. The second also used to assist withadjournment analysis before the practice of adjournments was largely abandoned in the 1990s.[333]
second player
The expression "the second player" is sometimes used to refer toBlack.
seesaw
Seewindmill.
Semi-Closed Game
Anopening that begins with White playing 1.d4 and Black replying with a move other than 1...d5.[334] Also calledhalf-closed game.[335]

semi-open file
Seehalf-open file.
Semi-Open Game
Anopening that begins with White playing 1.e4 and Black replying with a move other than 1...e5.[336] Also calledhalf-open game.[335]

seventy-five-move rule
The game is drawn if no capture or pawn move has occurred in the last seventy-five moves by either side, related to thefifty-move rule for looking at a series of moves without capture or pawn move.[337]
sham sacrifice
An offer ofmaterial that is made at no risk, as acceptance would lead to the gain of equal or greater material orcheckmate. This is in contrast to atrue sacrifice in which thecompensation is less tangible. Also calledpseudo sacrifice.[338]
sharp
Highlytactical, risky, double-edged, few available accurate moves. Sharp can be used to describemoves, maneuvers, positions,opening lines, and styles of play.[339]
short castling
Seecastling short.
shot
Colloquial for an unexpected orsharp move that typically makes atactical threat or technical challenge for the opponent.
silent move
A move that has a dynamic tactical effect on a position, but that does not capture or attack an enemy piece.[340][341]
See also:quiet move

simplification
A strategy of exchanging pieces, often with one of the following goals: as a defensive measure to reduce the size of an attacking force; when having the advantage to reduce the opponent'scounterplay; to try to obtain adraw; or as an attempt to gain an advantage by players who are strong inendgame play with simplified positions.[342][326] Also calledliquidation.
Asimultaneous exhibition

simul
Short forsimultaneous exhibition.
simultaneous chess
A form of chess in which one player plays against several players simultaneously. It is usually an exhibition.[343]
sitzfleisch
[from German, "sitting flesh"] The ability to sit still.[344]
skewer
Anattack on a valuable piece, compelling it to move to avoid capture and thus expose a less valuable piece which can then be taken.[345][346]
See also:§ X-ray, andX-ray

skittles
A casual or "pickup" game, usually played without achess clock. At chesstournaments, a skittles room is where one goes to play for fun while waiting for the next formal game.[343]
slow
Describes a strategy that requires too manytempi to complete, allowing the opponenttime toconsolidate.
smothered mate
A checkmate delivered by aknight in which the mated king is unable to escape because it is surrounded (or "smothered") by its own pieces.[347]
Sofia rules
In the tournament played by Sofia rules, players are not allowed to draw by agreement. They could have draws bystalemate,threefold repetition,fifty-move rule, or insufficient material. Other draws are allowed only if the arbiter declares the game reached a drawn position.[348]
solid
An adjective used to describe a move, opening, or manner of play that is characterized by minimal risk-taking and emphasis onquietpositional play rather than wildtactics.
sortie
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.
sound
A correct move or plan. A soundsacrifice has sufficientcompensation, a soundopening orvariation has no knownrefutation, and a soundpuzzle or composition has no knowncooks.[326]
      Antonym:unsound.
space
The squarescontrolled by each player. A player controlling more squares than the other is said to have aspatial advantage.[326]
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8c8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6 black knightd6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5 white bishopc5d5e5 black pawnf5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4 white pawnf4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3 white knightg3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1g1h1 white rook1
abcdefgh
TheSpanish bishop on b5 in theRuy Lopez

Spanish bishop
A whiteking bishop developed tob5. This is characteristic of theRuy Lopez, also known as the Spanish Opening.
speed chess
Seeblitz chess.
spite check
A harmlesscheck given by a player who is about to lose the game, that serves no purpose other than to momentarily delay the defeat.[349]
squeeze
Making pawn moves that limit mobility, freedom and options for the opponent, typically causing azugzwang.[350]
staircase maneuver
Atactic by which a queen, rook, or king progresses along a diagonal by making a series of lateral steps using a series ofchecks or alternating withpins and checks. Also calledstaircase movement.[351]
stalemate
A position in which the player whose turn it is to move has no legal move and theirking is not incheck. A stalemate results in an immediate draw.[81]
standard notation
Seealgebraic notation.
starting square
Apiece's starting square is the square it occupies at the beginning of the game.
An example ofStaunton chessmen

Staunton chess set
The standard design of chess pieces, required for use in competition.[352]
stem game
A stem game is the chess game featuring the first use of a particularopeningvariation. Sometimes, the player or the venue of the stem game is then used to refer to that opening.
strategic crush
Win characterized by gradual accumulation of advantages and complete prevention ofcounterplay.
strategy
The basis of a player's moves. The evaluation of positions and ways to achieve goals. Strategy is often contrasted withtactics, which are the calculations of more immediate plans andcombinations.[353]
strong
An effective and well-placed piece or pawn; a potentialoutpost; a forceful or good move; a position having good winning chances; a highlyrated player or one successful in tournaments; or a tournament having a sizable number of strong players competing, such asgrandmasters. A "strong showing" refers to a player's high win ratio in a tournament.
      Antonym:weak, e.g. aweak square.
stronger side
The side with amaterial orpositional advantage.[354]
strongpoint
1.  A "strongpoint defense" means anopening 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.
2.  More generically, a strongpoint can be any square heavily defended.
strong square
A square on a player's 4th or greaterrank on which the player can post a piece that cannot or will not be driven away by enemy pawns.[355]
      Cf.weak square.
sudden death
The most straightforwardtime control for a chess game: each player has a fixed amount of time available to make all moves.
See also:fast chess

support point
A square that cannot be attacked by a pawn, and that can be occupied as a home base for a piece, usually a knight.[353]
swap
Seeexchange.
swindle
A ruse or trick played from a position that is inferior.[353]
Swiss tournament
A system used in tournaments to determine pairings. In every round each player is paired with an opponent with the same or similar score.[356]
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8d8e8 black rookf8g8 black kingh88
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black queend7 black knighte7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh77
6a6b6c6 black pawnd6e6f6 black knightg6 black pawnh66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3 white pawnd3e3f3 white knightg3 white pawnh33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white queend2 white knighte2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh22
1a1b1c1d1e1 white rookf1g1 white kingh11
abcdefgh
Example ofsymmetry: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Bd3 Bd6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.0-0 0-0 7.Bg5 Bg4 8.Re1 Nbd7 9.Nbd2 c6 10.c3 Qc7 11.Qc2 Rfe8 12.Bh4 Bh5 13.Bg3 Bxg3 14.hxg3 Bg6 15.Rxe8+ Rxe8 16.Bxg6 hxg6 17.Re1 (diagram).Capablanca–Maróczy, 1926.[357] The game continued 17...Rxe1+ 18.Nxe1 Ne8 19.Nd3 Nd6 20.Qb3 a6 21.Kf1½–½

symmetry
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 tobreak symmetry when making a move that no longer imitates White's move.[353]
system
Seeopening system.

T

[edit]
tabia
[from Arabic: طبيعة ṭabīʕa, "essence"] Alsotabiya. 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.[358][359]
tablebase
Seeendgame tablebase.
tactician
A player who specializes in tactical play, as distinguished from apositional player.
tactics
Combinations, traps, and threats. Play characterized by short-term attacks, requiring calculation by the players, as distinguished frompositional play.[353]
takeback
Used in casual games whereby both players agree to undo one or more moves.
tall pawn
[colloq.] An ineffective bishop, usually abad bishop hemmed in by its own pawns.
Tarrasch rule
The general principle that rooks usually should be placed behindpassed pawns, either one's own or one's opponent's. Named afterSiegbert Tarrasch.[360]
TC
An abbreviation fortime control.
TD
An abbreviation fortournament director.[356]
technique
The manner in which a player converts an advantageous position into a win.
tempo
A unit of time considered as one move. A player may gain a tempo in the opening when the opponent moves the same piece twice. In theendgame, one may wish to lose a tempo bytriangulation in order to gain theopposition.[353] Plural:tempos ortempi.
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8c8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8h8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6 black knightd6e6f6 black knightg6h66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4 white knighte4 white pawnf4g4h44
3a3b3c3 white knightd3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2e2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1c1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1h1 white rook1
abcdefgh
ThisScotch Opening position containstension due to the knights on c6 and d4. Both knights are currently adequately defended, so neither player is forced to release the tension.

tension
A position in which one or moreexchanges are possible, such as a pair of pawns facing each other on a diagonal where either can capture the other, is said to containtension. Such a situation differs from athreat in that it does not need to be immediately resolved – for example, if both pawns are defended. The consequences of resolving the tension must be constantly considered by both players, in case there is a possibility of winning or losingmaterial. This makes calculating thebest move more complicated, and so there is a natural temptation to "release the tension" by making a like-for-like exchange (seesimplification) or by moving the attacked piece. To "keep the tension" is to avoid resolving it, which can be good advice depending on the position.
text move
This term is used in writtenanalysis of chess games to refer to a move actually played in the game as opposed to other possible moves. Often shortened totext, for example "The text is inferior as it allows ...f5." Text moves are usually in bold whereas analysis moves are not.
thematic
Suited to the demands of the position. The term "thematic move" is often applied to the key move of a thematic plan.[361]
theme tournament
A chesstournament in which every game must begin with a particularopening specified by the organizers, for example theBudapest Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5).
theoretical draw
Seebook draw.
theoretical novelty ("TN" or "N")
Or simplynovelty. A move in theopening that has not been played before.[362]
theory
Seebook move.
threat
A plan or move that carries an intention to damage the opponent's position. A threat is a tactical weapon that must be defended against.[363]
threefold repetition
A draw may be claimed if the same position occurs three times with the same player to move; and with each player having the choice of the same set of moves each time, including the right to captureen passant and the right to castle.[364] For the same position occurring five times, seefivefold repetition.
tiebreaks
SeeTie-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 aSwiss system chess tournament.
time
1.  The amount of time each player has to think and calculate as measured by achess clock.
2.  The number of moves to complete an objective; for example, if a king is racing to stop a pawn fromqueening, and the king has too few moves, that may be referred to as "not enough time".[353]
See also:tempo

time control
The allowed time to play a game, usually measured by achess clock. A time control can require either a certain number of moves be made per time period (e.g. 40 moves in2+1⁄2 hours) or it can limit the length of the entire game (e.g. five minutes per game forblitz). Hybrid schemes are used, andtime delay controls have become popular since the widespread use of digital clocks.[90]
time delay
Atime control that makes it possible for a player to avoid having an ever-decreasing amount of time remaining (as is the case withsudden death). The most important time delays in chess areBronstein delay andFischer delay.
time pressure
Ortime trouble. Having very little time on one'sclock (especially less than five minutes) to complete one's remaining moves. Also calledzeitnot.
See also:time control

TN
An abbreviation fortheoretical novelty.
top board
Seefirst board.
touch-move rule
Ortouched 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. Castling must be initiated by moving the king first, so a player who touches their rook may be required to move the rook, without castling. The rule also requires a player who touches an opponent's piece to capture it if possible. In order to adjust the position of a piece within its square without being required to move it, the player should say "J'adoube" or "I adjust".[363]
Tata SteelTournament 2013

tournament
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 ofknockout tournaments and team tournaments. The assignment of opponents is calledpairing, with the most popular systems beinground-robin andSwiss. A tournament is usually referred to by the city in which it was played and the year, such as "London 1851", although there are well-known exceptions, such as "AVRO 1938".
tournament book
A book recording thescores of all the games in a tournament, usually withanalysis of the best or most important games and some background on the event and its participants. One well-known example isBronstein'sZurich International Chess Tournament 1953. The less comprehensivetournament bulletin is usually issued between the rounds of a prestigious event, giving the players and world media an instant record of the games of the previous round. Individual copies may be bundled together at the conclusion of the event to provide an inexpensive alternative to the tournament book.[365]
tournament director ("TD")
Alsotournament controller [chiefly British]. Organizer and arbiter of a tournament, responsible for enforcing the tournament rules and thelaws of chess.
tournament performance rating ("TPR")
Theperformance rating over the course of a tournament.
trade
Seeexchange.
transposition
Arriving at a position using a different sequence of moves than usual.[174]
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8c8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8h8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black knighte7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6 black pawnf6 black knightg6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5f5g5 white bishoph55
4a4b4c4 white pawnd4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3 white knightd3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1c1d1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
With 4...Nbd7 Black sets a trap in theQGD (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5). White cannot win the pawn on d5 due to theElephant Trap.

trap
A move that may tempt the opponent to play a losing move.[366]

trapped piece
A piece is said to be "trapped" when it isen prise and cannot escape its capture in any way (i.e by capturing a piece, moving the piece, or blocking the attacking piece). Any piece—including the queen—can become "trapped" if a player is careless. A trapped king is said to becheckmated.
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h88
7a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5e5 black pawnf5 white kingg5h55
4a4b4c4d4 black kinge4 white pawnf4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2b2c2d2e2f2g2h22
1a1b1c1d1e1f1g1h11
abcdefgh
Trébuchet: whoever has the move loses. 1.Kg4 Kxe4 2.Kg3 Ke3 3.Kg2 Ke2 4.Kg3 e4 5.Kf4 e3 6.Ke4 Kf2 and the black pawn will queen.

trébuchet
[from French, a type ofsiege engine] A theoretical position of mutualzugzwang in which either player would lose if it were their turn to move.[367]
triangulation
A technique used in king and pawnendgames (less commonly seen with other pieces) to lose atempo and gain theopposition.[368]
tripled pawns
Threepawns of the same color on the samefile; considered a weakness due to their inability to defend each other.[369]
Troitsky line
AlsoTroitzky line.Endgame analysis byAlexey Troitsky of two knights versus a pawn found certain pawn positions that result in win, draw or loss. The resulting pawn positions on eachfile form what is known as theTroitsky line or Troitsky position.[370]
two bishops
Orthe two bishops. A synonym forbishop pair.[371]

U

[edit]
unclear
A position where it is unclear who (if anyone) has an advantage.[372]
undermining
Atactic (also known as "removal of the guard") in which a defensive piece is captured, leaving one of the opponent's pieces undefended or underdefended.[373]
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h88
7a7b7c7 white pawnd7 white kinge7f7g7h77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5 black kingb5c5d5e5f5g5h55
4a4 black pawnb4c4d4e4f4g4h44
3a3 white pawnb3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2b2c2d2e2f2g2h22
1a1b1 white rookc1d1e1f1g1h11
abcdefgh
White to move shouldunderpromote the c7-pawn to a rook; promoting to a queen gives stalemate.

underpromotion
Promoting a pawn to a rook, bishop, or knight instead of a queen. Rarely seen unless the knight can deliver a crucialcheck, or when promotion to a rook or a bishop instead of a queen is necessary to avoidstalemate.[261]
United States Chess Federation
This is a nonprofit organization, the governing chess organization within the United States, and one of the federations of theFIDE.
unorthodox opening
Seeirregular opening.
unpinning
The act of breaking apin by interposing a second piece between the attacker and the target. This allows the piece that was formerly pinned to move.
unsound
Antonym ofsound.
USCF
An abbreviation forUnited States Chess Federation.

V

[edit]
vacating sacrifice
Asacrifice made for the purpose of clearing a square for a different piece of the same color.
valve
A move that opens oneline and closes another.
vanished center
Orvanished centre. A position with no white or blackcenter pawns.[374]
variant
Seechess variant.
variation
1.  A sequence of moves or an alternative line of play, often applied to theopening. A variation does not have to have been played in a game; it may also be a possibility that occurs only in analysis.[366] Also calledcontinuation.
2.  The word "Variation" is also used to name specific sequences of moves within an opening. For an example, theDragon Variation is part of theSicilian Defense.[86]
vertical line
Seefile.

W

[edit]
waiting move
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 inzugzwang).[375]
WCC
An abbreviation for World Chess Championship.[376]
WCM
An abbreviation forWoman Candidate Master.
weakness
A pawn or square that can be attacked and is hard to defend.[377]
weak square
A square that cannot be easily defended from attack by an opponent. Often a weak square is unable to be defended by pawns (ahole) and can be theoretically occupied by a piece. Exchange or loss of a bishop may make all squares of that bishop's color weak resulting in a "weak square complex" on the light squares or the dark squares.[378]
WFM
An abbreviation forWoman FIDE Master.[379]
WGM
An abbreviation forWoman Grandmaster.[379]
white
The light-colored squares on thechessboard 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.[39]
See also:black

White
The designation for the player who moves first, even though the correspondingpieces, referred to as "the white pieces", are sometimes actually some other (usually light) color.

WIM
An abbreviation forWoman International Master.[380]
win
A victory for one of the two players in a game, which may occur due tocheckmate,resignation by the other player, the other player exceeding thetime control, or the other player beingforfeited by thetournament director. Chess being azero-sum game, this results in aloss for the other player. In a tournament abye may be scored as a win.[381]

windmill
Acombination in which two pieces work together to deliver an alternating series ofchecks anddiscovered checks in such a way that the opposingking is required to move on each turn. It is a potent technique, since, on every other move, the discovered check may allow the non-checking piece to capture an enemy piece without losing atempo. The most famous example isTorre–Lasker, Moscow 1925.[382] Also calledseesaw.
wing
Thequeenside a-, b-, and c-files; or thekingside f-, g-, and h-files.[383] Also calledflank.
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7d7 black pawne7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5 black pawnd5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4 white pawnc4d4e4 white pawnf4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2c2 white pawnd2 white pawne2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
Wing Gambit in the Sicilian Defense

Wing Gambit
The name given to variations of several openings in which one player gambits a wing pawn, usually the b-pawn.[384]
winning percentage
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. Thus, if out of 100 games a player wins 40 percent, draws 32 percent, and loses 28 percent, the winning percentage is 40 plus half of 32, i.e. 56 percent.[385]
winning position
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).[386] Also calledwon game.
Woman Candidate Master ("WCM")
A women-only chess title ranking belowWoman FIDE Master.[62]
Woman FIDE Master ("WFM")
A women-only chess title ranking belowWoman International Master.[379]
Woman Grandmaster ("WGM")
The highest ranking gender-restricted chess title except for Women's World Champion.[379]
Woman International Master ("WIM")
A women-only chess title ranking belowWoman Grandmaster and aboveWoman FIDE Master.[379]
won game
Seewinning position.
wood
Slang forpieces. "A lot of wood came off the board" conveys that several pieceexchanges occurred.[89]
woodpusher
[colloq., typically derogatory] A weak chess player, also referred to as apatzer orduffer.[387]
See also:fish

World Champion
A winner of theWorld Chess Championship.[376]
wrong bishop
Orwrong-colored bishop. A bishop that, because of the color squares it is restricted to, suffers critical loss of utility in the game position.[388]
abcdefgh
8a8b8 black kingc8d8e8f8g8h88
7a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h77
6a6 white kingb6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5 white pawnb5c5d5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4 white bishope4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2b2c2d2e2f2g2h22
1a1b1c1d1e1f1g1h11
abcdefgh
Awrong rook pawn at a5 with a wrong-colored bishop. In this position, White cannot force promotion and Black can force a draw.

wrong rook pawn
With a bishop, arook pawn may be thewrong rook pawn, depending on whether or not the bishop controls its promotion square.[389]

X

[edit]
Example of an X-ray defense
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8d8 white queene8f8g8 black kingh88
7a7b7c7d7e7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black rooke5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 black queenb2c2d2e2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1b1c1d1 white rooke1f1 white kingg1h11
abcdefgh
The white queen has just put the king in check, and the white rook provides anX-ray defense of the white queen.

X-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 askewer, occurs when two pieces of the same color are caught in the same line of attack along a diagonal, rank, or file. The attacking pieceforces the first and more valuable piece to move out of the way, which allows the second piece to be captured. An X-ray defense occurs when one piece is defended by another piece through an attacking enemy piece standing between the two.[390]

Z

[edit]
zeitnot
[from German, "time need"] Having very little time on the clock to complete the remaining moves of a timed game.[391] Also calledtime pressure andtime trouble.
See also:time control

Zonal tournaments
Tournaments organized byFIDE, the first qualifying cycle of theWorld Chess Championship. Each zonal tournament features top players of a certain geographical zone. Up until 1993 the winners went on toInterzonal tournaments. This was replaced by a system where the winners now play each other inknockout-style competitions to determine who goes on to theCandidates Tournament.[392]
zugzwang
[from German, "compulsion to move"] When a player is put at a disadvantage by having to make a move; where any legal move weakens the position. Zugzwang usually occurs in theendgame, and rarely in themiddlegame.[393]
zwischenschach
[from German, "in-between check"] Playing a surprising check that the opponent did not consider when plotting a sequence of moves; azwischenzug that is acheck.[394]
zwischenzug
[from German, "in-between move"] An "in-between" move, or an intermezzo, played before an expected reply. Often, but not always, this involves responding to a threat by posing an even greater threat, forcing the opponent to respond to the threat first.[395]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
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  132. ^Reinfeld 2014, p. 74, Discovered check is really a kind of discovered attack, with this important difference: the 'discovering' piece moves away to allow its colleague to give check along the vacated line.
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  333. ^All The King's MenArchived 24 October 2009 at theWayback Machine, Outlook Business, 31 October 2009
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  335. ^abHooper & Whyld 1996, p. 165,half-close game.
  336. ^Hooper & Whyld 1996, p. 365,semi-open game.
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Sources

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
Outline
Equipment
History
Notable games
Rules
Terms
Tactics
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Openings
Flank opening
King's Pawn Game
Queen's Pawn Game
Other
Endgames
Tournaments
Art and media
Related
Glossaries of sports
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