glossary

A piece that is well-positioned and able to move freely without obstruction.

A method of recording chess moves using letters and numbers to indicate the squares on the board.

A move or series of moves designed to put pressure on an opponent's pieces or position.

A pawn that is behind the pawns on adjacent files and is therefore difficult to defend.

Two or more pieces of the same color lined up in a row or diagonal, ready to attack a target square.

When a player has both of their bishops still on the board, which can provide a strategic advantage in certain positions.

A serious mistake in a chess game, often leading to a significant disadvantage or loss.

Possible moves a player considers during their turn.

A series of moves that leads to the capture of a piece.

A position where there are many pawns and few open lines, making it difficult for the pieces to move around freely.

A term used to describe the influence of the pawn structure on the position and movement of the pieces.

A series of moves that involves a sacrifice or exchange to gain a positional or material advantage.

Two or more pawns of the same color that are connected on adjacent files, which can provide support and strength in pawn chains.

A strategic goal in chess to occupy and control the center squares of the board with pieces and pawns.

A square that, if occupied or controlled, can greatly affect the outcome of the game.

A tactic that involves moving a piece to distract or lure an opponent's piece away from a key square or target.

A piece that is sacrificed in order to gain a tactical advantage or avoid a worse outcome.

The process of moving pieces from their starting positions to more active and useful squares.

A tactic where a piece is moved to reveal an attack by another piece.

A check delivered by two pieces at once, which can limit the king's options for escape.

Two pawns of the same color on the same file, which can create weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the pawn structure.

A chess problem that involves a position with a limited number of pieces and a specific goal to achieve.

A sacrifice of material in exchange for a positional or tactical advantage.

The three types of lines on the chessboard that determine the movement and control of the pieces.

A variant of chess where the starting position of the pieces is randomly generated.

A square to which a king can move in order to escape a check or danger.

A bishop that is not blocked by its own pawns and has potential for active play.

Two or more pawns of the same color that are not connected and can be vulnerable to attack.

A piece that is not defended and can be captured by an opponent.

A defensive setup with pawns and pieces arranged in a hedgehog-like formation.

A pawn that is advanced to create weaknesses in an opponent's pawn structure.

A style of play that emphasizes control of the center from a distance rather than.

A chess move played in response to an opponent's move, but before playing the intended move. This tactic is used to disrupt the opponent's plan or gain an advantage.

A term used to describe a player who is able to dictate the pace and direction of the game. A player with the initiative has more options and can force their opponent to react to their moves.

A tactic used to disrupt an opponent's piece coordination by placing a piece between two of their pieces, preventing them from communicating with each other.

A pawn structure where one pawn is isolated from the others and has no pawns on adjacent files. This structure often arises from certain openings and can lead to positional weaknesses.

A square that is strategically important for controlling certain areas of the board or for gaining an advantage.

A system used by White that involves playing d3, Nd2, Ngf3, g3, Bg2, and often a pawn storm on the king's side to attack Black's king.

A popular chess opening where Black fianchettoes their king's bishop and often uses a pawn storm to attack the opponent's king.

An opening where White plays 1.e4, often leading to an open and tactical game.

A tactic where a knight attacks two pieces at the same time, forcing the opponent to lose material.

A pawn structure where a player has more pawns on one side of the board, often leading to an advantage in controlling that side of the board.

A strategic idea where a player attacks the opponent's majority pawn structure with their own minority pawn structure, often creating weaknesses and gaining space.

A term used to describe a piece's ability to move around the board and participate in the game.

The specific order in which moves are played in the opening, which can have a significant impact on the resulting position.

A popular chess opening for Black that involves playing 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4, often leading to a solid and flexible position.

A position where many pawns have been traded and there are many open lines and diagonals for pieces to move around.

A term used to describe a situation where two kings are on the same rank, file, or diagonal with only one square in between them. The player with the move often gains an advantage by forcing their opponent's king to move.

A square on the opponent's side of the board that a player's piece can occupy without being easily attacked or removed.

A strategic concept where a player defends a piece or square with multiple pieces, making it difficult for the opponent to attack or capture it.

A pawn that has no opposing pawns in front of it and is free to advance and promote to a stronger piece.

The ability of a player's pieces to work together effectively, often through the use of tactics and strategic planning.

A tactic where a player immobilizes an opponent's piece by attacking it with a more valuable piece, forcing the opponent to keep the piece in place and limiting their options.

A pawn that appears to be free to take, but doing so would expose the capturing piece to a strong attack.

The four central squares of the board (d4, d5, e4, and e5) which are considered to be strategically important and provide control over a large part of the board.

A chess opening where White offers their d-pawn to Black in exchange for gaining control of the center of the board. It is considered one of the oldest and most popular openings in chess.

An opening where White plays 1.d4, often leading to a more positional and strategic game.

A move that is not immediately forcing or aggressive, often used to improve the position of a piece or prepare for a future attack.

A tactic where a player moves their rook to a higher rank, often to improve its activity and create threats against the opponent's position.

A pawn located on the a-file or h-file, which is often used to create a pawn shield in front of the king.

A term used to describe a situation where one player has more space on the board than their opponent, often providing more options for their pieces and restricting the opponent's movements.

A situation in chess where the player to move has no legal moves but is not in check. The game ends in a draw.

The standard style of chess pieces used in official tournaments and competitions, named after the 19th-century British chess player Howard Staunton.

A situation where a player would prefer to pass their turn, but any legal move they make would result in a disadvantageous position. This often leads to the loss of material or the game.