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Home | Learn Chess | Chess Shoppe | Links | Glossary
Glossary of Chess Terms
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
A standardized method for recording chess moves using a single capital letter to designate the piece to move followed by the file/rank designation of the square moved to.
(For an explanation of how to use Algebraic Notation see Understanding Chess Notation)
B
A pawn which is behind the other pawns of the same color and so cannot be protected by other pawns.. Backwards pawns are considered a disadvantage since they cannot be protected by other pawns and other resources may have to be committed to guard them.
Blunder:
A badly chosen move, often resulting in the loss of material, an attack on the King or the surrender of some other important advantage.
C
Castling:
A special move, which each player is permitted to make once during the game, in which the King moves 2 square towards either of it's Rook and that Rook is moved to the square adjacent to the King on the opposite side. Castling is only permitted if all squares between the King and Rook are unoccupied, neither the King or the Rook has moved earlier in the game and the King is not in check and does not land on or pass through a square that is attacked during the move.
Castling is the only circumstance in which a player may move two of their own pieces on the same turn. The special rules for castling were created as a means of allowing players to get their Kings into a position that is less open to attack.
(For a more detailed explanation of castling see this section of The Rules of Chess Play)
A condition in which one player's King could be captured by one or more of their opponent's pieces or pawns if it was the opponent's turn to move. Moves which result in a player's own King being in check are not legal. When a player's King is put in check by their opponent they are obliged to choose a move which removes the King from check. (Any move that doesn't do this is not a legal move.) If there is no legal move that removes the King from check, it is checkmate and that player loses.
A condition in which one player's King is in check and no legal move would remove the King from check. Checkmating the opponent's King is the object of the game of chess; the player who does so wins.
Chess 960: See Fischerandom Chess
A specially constructed dual timing device that maintains time control for both players. A chess clock will be equipped with a button for each player which they push at the completion of their own move. The button simultaneously stops their own timer and starts their opponent's. Chess clocks come in both analog and digital varieties. Digital chess clocks allow time to be automatically added after each move is completed, easily allowing time control schemes that include an increment.
A game that is derived from, shares ancestry with, or is otherwise very similar to chess. A chess variant may differ from standard chess in one or more of the following ways: different pieces, different chess board configurations, different starting positions or different rules for capture, move order, object of the game etc.
There are over 2000 documented chess variants. Some such as xiangqi, or Chinese chess, are derived from the same ancestor game that in the West developed into chess and therefore share many similarities with chess. Others such as Fisherandom (Chess 960) and Seirawan Chess were created to bring a freshness to the game that many masters feel has been overanalyzed. Many other variants such as Bughouse simply add new elements to the game in order to broaden it's appeal.
D
Development:
The process of moving pieces from their initial squares on to squares where they will be more effective. A well developed piece is typically more mobile and exerts more control over important areas of the board, especially the center.
E
Elo Rating:
A standard measure of a chess player's strength, now used throughout the world, based on a mathmatical formula devised by Arpad Elo. The formula is based on a player's past results and considers the Elo rating of their opponents.
Endgame: (or Ending)
The final phase of the game characterized by few if any pieces remain on the board. The transition from middlegame to endgame is often marked by the exchange of several pieces, especially the exchange of Queens. During this phase the absence of attacking pieces means that it is normally advisable to bring the Kings out from their protected positions and into the conflict, and the focus of the game frequently shifts to the promotion of pawns. It is important to note that not every game reaches the endgame phase. A game can end with, for example a mating attack during the middlegame or even the opening phase of the game. Even though the attack ended the game, it is not considered part of the endgame as it lacks the characteristics of that phase.
En Passant:
A special case capture of a pawn which has just advanced two squares from its initial position by an opposing pawn on an adjacent file which was on it's fifth rank. The capturing pawn then occupies the square on it's 6th rank on the file of the captured pawn. This capture must be made immediately following the two square advance of the pawn to be captured.
(For a more detailed explanation of the en passant rule see this section of The Rules of Chess Play)
En Prise:
An unprotected piece or pawn which is open to direct capture.
F
Fianchetto:
A Bishop that has been developed to either b2 or g2 (for White) or b7 or g7 (for Black)
Figurine Notation:
A method for recording chess moves that is identical to algebraic notation except that the capital letter used to denote the piece that moves is replaced with a graphic symbol for that piece. Figurine notation has the advantage of being more universal since the capital letters used in algebraic notation vary depending on language.
A chess variant invented by World Champion Bobby Fischer in which the pieces on White's back rank assigned, within certain conditions, random positions and Black's pieces are set up as a mirror image of White's. Also known as Chess 960 for the 960 possible initial positions, the variation is intended to force players to be creative from the first move rather than relying on memorized openings.
G
The Intentional sacrifice of material during the opening with the hope of achieving some other advantage such as a lead in development or gaining the initiative.
An opening characterized by the moves 1. e4 e5, 2. Nf3 Nc6, 3. Bc4. It is also commonly referred to as the "Italian Game"
H
Hypermodern: (or Hypermodernism)
A school of thought in chess that advocates indirect control of the center of the board rather than directly occupation.
I
An amount of time that is added to a player's clock with each move as part of a time control arrangement.
Italian Game: (or Italian Opening): See Giuoco Piano
J
From the French for "I adjust", this is accepted internationally as the way to announce that you intend to adjust the pieces on the board without being subject to the touch move rule.
K
Kingside:
The half of the chess board that includes the e - h files. It is so named because, when the pieces are set up in their initial position, both Kings are placed on this side of the board.
L
A piece that is not protected by any other piece or pawn, but which is not currently attacked by any opposing piece or pawn.
M
Mate: See Checkmate
The pieces and pawns considered generically as assets in the game. The player with the greater total value of pieces and pawns on the board is said to have a "material advantage". Since Kings are never captured during the game and therefore cannot be treated as a commodity like this, they are not considered material.
An attack on the opponent's King with the attempt of achieving checkmate.
The phase of the game between the opening and endgame. During the middlegame there are a significant number of pieces still on the board, typically in well developed positions. Owing to this the middlegame is the phase during which the most possibilities exist and players can attempt to gain the advantage through a variety of means including anything from obtaining a subtle positional advantage to all out mating attacks.
N
Novelty
A new move, usually in the opening, that is a departure from what was played in any previous game on record.
O
Opening:
The initial phase of the game characterized by each player's attempting to develop their pieces, move their King to a safe position and gain control of important sections of the board, most especially the center. Another important aspect of opening play is to hindering the opponent in their attempts to achieve these same goals.
The term "opening" may also refer to a recognized sequence of moves played during this phase of the game. These standard opening sequences are given names. For example the Ruy Lopez, Giuoco Piano, Sicilian Defense etc. are all well recognized chess openings.
P
Passed Pawn:
A pawn that can no longer be blocked or captured by any of the opponent's pawn. This may occur either because the pawn has passed by any opposing pawn on it's own rank and the ranks adjacent to it, or because these pawns have either been captured or moved to other ranks. A passed pawn is considered advantageous because the opponent must use pieces to prevent it's advance towards promotion.
Patzer:
A derogatory term for a weak player.
An advantage over one's opponent owing to the superior placement of their pawns and pieces on the board rather than a material advantage. Such an advantage may be the result of having greater control over key areas of the board, better overall piece mobility, superior pawn structure etc.
When a pawn reaches the final rank on the opponent's side of the board it must "promote" to any another piece of the player's choice, either a Knight, Bishop, Rook or Queen. Because players almost always choose to promote to a Queen, promotion is often referred to as "Queening".
Q
Queening: See Promotion
Queenside:
The half of the chess board that includes the a - d files. It is so named because, when the pieces are set up in their initial position, both Queens are placed on this side of the board.
R
An opening characterized by the moves 1. e4 e5, 2. Nf3 Nc6, 3. Bb5. It is also commonly referred to as the "Spanish Opening" or "Spanish Game"
S
Intentionally allowing a piece or pawn to be captured in order to achieve some other goal or advantage that may include anything from a subtle positional superiority to the initiation of a forced mating attack.
A chess variant invented by Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan in which each player begins the game with two additional pieces, the Hawk and the Elephant, "in hand" that can be introduced when circumstances allow later in the game.
An opening characterized by the moves 1. e4 c5. Since it is Black's move that defines this opening it is referred to as a defense. From here the game can proceed along a number of different paths including the Classical, Najdorf, Sveshnikov, Kalashnikov, Taimanov, Dragon, Accelerated Dragon, Rossolimo, Alapin and Scheveningen variations to name a few. There are so many possible paths the Sicilian itself has no real main line.
Spanish Opening or Spanish Game: See Ruy Lopez
Play directed towards the achievement of long term plans or positional advantages.
T
Play characterized by the calculation of variation with the intent of gaining an advantage over the short term through the use of attacks, threats or traps.
The amount of time players are given to complete their moves. This normally consists of a fixed amount of time in which players have to complete all of their moves or a given number of moves, and may be augmented with an increment which is added to the total time for each move completed. The time control is usually maintained by a chess clock during live games or during internet play by a virtual chess clock.
A rule which states that if the player who's turn it is to move intentionally touches a piece he must move (if it is their own) or capture (if it is their opponent's) the piece touched if such a move can be made legally. This rule is normally only observed during tournaments or other sanctioned chess events. For casual games the touch move rule is not usually observed.
U
Promotion of a pawn to something other than a Queen.
V
Variant: see Chess Variant
Variation:
A possible alternative line of play that may result if a standard chess opening deviates from the recognized main line.
W
Weak Square:
An important square that is difficult or impossible to defend. Factors that may lead to a square becoming weak include an absence of pawns on adjacent files that can be moved to protect it and the Bishop of the square's color having been captured.
X
Y
Z
Zugzwang:
A situation in which the player with the move would be in a better position if they made no move, but they are never the less obliged to move.
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