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A
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B
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Backward Pawn
A pawn with no pawns behind it on adjacent files, so that it cannot be protected by another pawn. (See also hanging pawn.)
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Bad Bishop
A bishop whose movement is partly or completely restricted by its own pawns. (See also good bishop.)
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Battery
Two pieces on the same file, rank or diagonal who protect each other. For example, a Queen and a Bishop on the same diagonal or two Rooks on the same rank or file.
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Bishops of Opposite Color
Where each player has only one Bishop, and those Bishops are on squares of different colors. Since the Bishops cannot threaten or capture each other, if they remain in the endgame then the game often ends in a draw.
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Blockade
A situation where a pawn is prevented from advancing by an enemy piece, usually a Knight.
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Blunder
A noticeably bad move, usually resulting in an obvious loss of material or weakening of the position.
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C
Caissa
The goddess (or muse) of chess. First mentioned in the 1763 poem "Caissa" by Sir William Jones, based on the medieval poem by Vida, "Schacchia Ludus" ("The Game of Chess").
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Castling
A single move involving the King and Rook. To castle kingside move the King from e1 to g1 for White (from e3 to g8 for Black) and the Rook from h1 to f1 for White (from h8 to f8 for Black). To castle queenside move the King from e1 to c1 for White (from e8 to c8 for Black) and the Rook from a1 to d1 for White (from a8 to d8 for Black). There are restrictions to this move, however: 1.The King and whichever Rook involved in the move cannot have been moved previously. 2.The King will not land on a square that is controlled by the opponent. 3.The King cannot pass through a square that is controlled by the opponent. (See also kingside, queenside.)
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Chatrang
The Persian name for an early version of chess. (See also chaturanga.)
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Chaturanga
The name of the first version of chess. Chaturanga is a Sanksrit word meaning "four-membered" - when this game was developed in India in the sixth century armies had four components: infantry, cavalry, chariots, and elephants. (See also chatrang.)
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Check
An attack on the opponent's King by either a piece or a pawn. (See also checkmate.)
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Checkmate
When a player's King is in check and the player has no legal move to get the King out of check. (See also check.)
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Closed File
A file that has at least one pawn of each color on it. (See also open file, semi-open file.)
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Closed Game
A game where the movement of pieces is restricted due to the center being under the control of pawns. (See also open game.)
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Combination
A series of moves put together by a player in which the opponent's moves are forced (or almost forced), usually involving a sacrifice. A combination ends with an advantage for the player who initiated it. (See also sacrifice.)
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Complicate
To make the position more complex, usually used in a situation where a player is clearly behind in material in the hope that the opponent will make a mistake (give him more chances to make a mistake). (See also simplify.)
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Cramped Position
A situation in which a player's pieces and pawns are constantly in each other's way, making free movement of the pieces difficult.
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D
Development
The movement of the pieces from their original positions to (hopefully) good positions.
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Discovered Attack
When one piece is moved, uncovering an attack by another piece. For example, if White's Bishop is between White's Queen and Black's King and the Bishop is moved to another square, the King is then in check from White's Queen (discovered check). (See also double attack.)
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Double Attack
A discovered attack in which the piece being moved also attacks. (See also discovered attack.)
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Doubled Pawns
Two pawns that occupy the same file.
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Duffer
A disparaging term used to describe a very poor player. (See also patzer, fish.)
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E
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Endgame
The phase of the game where there are few pieces and pawns left. Generally the Kings become much more active in the endgame. (See also opening, middle game.)
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En Passant
A French term meaning 'in passing'. Refers to a special type of capture available only to the pawn. For a detailed explanation with diagrams, click here.
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En Prise
A French term meaning "in a position to be taken". Refers to a piece that is left unguarded.
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Exchange (The)
Refers to the trading of minor pieces (ie. Knight for Knight, Bishop for Knight, Bishop for Bishop). When said as 'The Exchange', it refers to the trading of minor piece for Rook - this is called 'winning The Exchange'. (See also minor piece.)
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F
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Fianchetto
A term meaning to develop a Bishop on either flank - for White at b2 or g2, for Black at b7 or g7.
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File
A vertical row of squares on the chessboard. The board is divided into eight files and eight ranks. (See also rank.)
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Flight Square
A square to which the King can escape from the back rank if it is placed in check. (See also luft.)
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Fool's Mate
The fastest possible checkmate in chess (1.g4 e5(or e6) 2.f4(or g3) Qh4#). (See also scholar's mate.)
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Fork
When one piece attacks two pieces at the same time.
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G
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Gambit
To offer up a pawn for capture in an attempt to gain time or space. Usually occurs in the opening.
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Good Bishop
A Bishop whose pawns do not impede it's movement (ie, most or all of the pawns are on one color square while the Bishop is on the opposite colored square). (See also bad bishop.)
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H
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Half-Open File
A file that is only occupied by pawn(s) of one color. (See also closed file, open file.)
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Hanging
A slang term for a piece left en prise. (See also en prise.)
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Hanging Pawns
Steinitz's term for two adjacent pawns that are on the fourth rank, can't be supported by other pawns, are not passed pawns, and are on half-open files. (See also passed pawn, half-open file.)
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I
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Initiative
Term refering to the advantage held by the player who has the ability to control the action and flow of the game, thus forcing the opponent to play defensively.
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Interpose
To move a piece between your piece that is threatened and the opponent's piece that is threatening.
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Isolated Pawn
A pawn whose adjacent files contain no pawns to support it.
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J
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J'adoube
A French term meaning "I adjust" or "I touch". It is commonly spoken a player before he adjusts a piece to the center of it's square.
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K
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Kibitz (Kibitzer)
To comment during a game, or during analysis following a game, within the hearing of the players. A kibitzer is one who kibitzes - this is can be a derogatory term.
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Kingside
The half of the board on the King's side (files e - h). (See also queenside.)
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King Hunt
A prolonged attack on the opponent's King that usually dislodges it from a shielded, defensive position with a series of checks and sacrifices.
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Knight's Tour
A chess puzzle whereby the Knight is moved 64 times, landing on each square only once.
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L
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Luft
A German word meaning 'air' - used as another term for a flight square for the King. (See also flight square.)
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M
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Major Piece
A Queen or a Rook. (See also minor piece.)
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Majority Attack
A general advancement of pawns on one flank where the advancing player has a pawn majority. (See also pawn majority.)
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Middlegame
The phase of the game following the opening where there are still many pieces on the board and most of the pieces have been developed. (See also opening, endgame.)
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Minor Piece
A Bishop or a Knight. (See also major piece.)
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Minority Attack
A general advancement of pawns on one flank where the opposing player has a pawn majority. (See also pawn majority.)
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Mobility
The ability to move one's pieces to important parts of the board quickly and easily.
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N
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National Chess Day
October 9th, 1976. U.S. President Gerald Ford set the day aside "to give special recognition to a game that gerates challenge, intellectual stimulation, and enjoyment for citizens of all ages."
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O
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Opening
The beginning part of a chess game. Also, a set of opening moves can be given a specific name for ease of reference, such as Ruy Lopez opening or Giuoco Piano opening.
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Open File
A file that has no pawns on it.
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Open Game
A term that denotes games which are characterized by piece mobility. (See also closed game.)
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Opposition
A position where the two kings are on the same rank or file. When only one square separates the kings, thay are said to be in direct opposition. When there are three to five squares separating them, they are said to be in distant opposition. A player is said to "have the opposition" if the kings are in direct opposition and his opponent must move.
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Organic Weakness
Any permanent imperfection in the pawn structure.
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Outpost
A piece that is placed on a square on the opponent's side of the board and protected by a pawn, so that no enemy pawn can attack it. It can only be removed by a concerted attack by enemy pieces.
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Overload (Overwork)
A situation where a pawn or a piece must perform too many defensive functions (ie, protect two pieces at the same time).
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P
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Passed Pawn
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Patzer
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Pawn Chain
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Pawn Grabbing
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Pawn Majority
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Pawn Structure
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Perpetual Check
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Pin
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Poisoned Pawn
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Post Mortem
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Preventive Sacrifice
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Q
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Queenside
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Queening Square
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Quiet Move
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R
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S
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Sacrifice
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Scholar's Mate
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Second
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Sharp
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Simplify
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Simultaneous Display
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Skewer
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Skittles
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Smothered Mate
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Spite Check
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Stalemate
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T
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Tempo (to Gain a Tempo)
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Touch-move
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Transposition
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Trap
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U
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V
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W
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X
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Y
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Z
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