8 Chess Terms Every Player Should Know – GameRant
Highlights
At first glance, the timeless game of chess can seem simpleespecially when compared to the wave of challenging board games that have emerged in recent decades. It comes with no encounter deck or status effects, just eight pieces and pawns for each player and an understandable set of rules.
RELATED: Board Games That Would Make Amazing Video Games
Yet for all its apparent simplicity, chess is a game with hidden depths. From a balanced starting position, a game of chess can go just about anywhere. Indeed, there are actually more possible chessboard positions than atoms in the universe, and some of these require specialist terms to understand the state of play.
Everybody makes mistakes. Indeed, victory in chess is as much about avoiding mistakes for longer than your opponent can as it is about strategy and long-term planning. Whether it's forgetting to move a vulnerable queen, overlooking a Scholar's Mate, or simply making a mouse slip, it's fair to say that screwing up is a universal experience.
Yet some mistakes are worse than others. Blunders are critical errors of play that jeopardize not only a piece, but risk the entire state of play. It's possible to recover from blunders, but the less made, the better.
Sometimes playing chess is about delivering a carefully choreographed checkmate that leaves an opponent blindsided. However, when gamers find themselves on the back foot, even the best players may choose to take desperate measures in order to achieve a temporary advantage or even to force an end to the game.
RELATED: Chess: Common Mistakes New Players Need To Avoid
A desperado move can see a heroic piece give itself up for the greater good, sacrificing itself because it is trapped (but willing to go down fighting, capturing material in the process). Such a suicide run may not be entirely tactically sound, but it can make the best of a bad situation, and may even lay the groundwork for a stalemate, preferable to an outright loss.
The vulnerable king is hardly known for his agility, being limited to moving one square in any direction. This makes it just about possible for the royal figure to dodge checkmate (at least until the endgame). Nonetheless, during castling, in which the king performs a kind of switcheroo with one of his rooks, he can jump more than one space.
Castling at a critical moment can change the course of the game. However, there are restrictions. Castling is not possible if the king or rook have already moved, or if the spaces that the king would move through are under attack by enemy pieces. As such, this defensive maneuver should be carefully timed for maximum effect.
Assigned a single point of value each by chess players, the unwieldy pawns can seem unassuming to new players. After all, their pattern of crawling forward and capturing diagonally can make them seem clunky compared to their more agile compatriots. It's unsurprising, then, that many players throughout history have chosen to sacrifice these diminutive soldiers.
Yet, pawns have a trick up their sleeve: en passant, the so-called French move. Under the right circumstances (e.g., after a white pawn has moved forward two squares and is on the same file as a black pawn), the latter pawn can outflank the former, delivering a sneaky capture sure to throw any unfamiliar opponent off their game.
"No pain, no gain" is a common saying and one that also applies to chess. Rather than losing pieces through mistakes or blunders, a gambit involves the calculated sacrifice of material in order to serve a long-term goal.
RELATED: Tabletop Games From The Middle Ages And Antiquity
Many popular openings are gambits, including the made-famous-by-Netflix Queen's Gambit. For instance, the BlackmarDiemer Gambit sees white sacrifice a pawn in order to partly open up the f-file and obtain a tempo (making their opponent waste a move). As such, it allows for players to quickly develop their pieces, putting white well on the road to victory.
A good chess player can make the most of the options available to them on a board, but there are times when those options are limited. They might be forced to move their king in order to dodge an opponent's checkor they might be unable to move a piece because it blocks an attack on their king.
This latter situation, known as an absolute pin, can effectively lock down an opponent's vital pieces. This can allow a player's material to advance unimpeded, moving into squares that would normally leave it open to capture during the mid-game. Pulling off an absolute pin is all about exerting control, and players who are unable to avoid falling victim to one are likely to struggle to best their opponent.
The power of chess pieces like the rook, bishop, and queen, which pose a threat across dozens of squares in many directions, was effectively dramatized in Harry Potter when Ron Weasley bore the brunt of a queen's attack. The destructive potential of these pieces can be further enhanced by using them to carry out a skewer.
RELATED: Hogwarts Legacy Not Including Wizard's Chess Is A Missed Opportunity
During a skewer, one player attacks a valuable piece belonging to their opponentspecifically, a valuable piece with a lesser piece on the same rank or file. Any chess player familiar with piece value (queens being worth 9 points, rooks 5, and so on) will naturally save the prestigious piece. As such, cannot avoid the loss of the less valuable material. Performed properly, a skewer can shred an opponent's position, resulting in a significant material advantage.
It may be the wrong kind of cutlery, but a well-executed fork can feel like a knife in the heart to even the most seasoned chess player. Essentially, a fork attacks two pieces at once, forcing an opponent to waste precious time deciding which piece they wish to lose. Some opponents will even resign in shame when confronted with an especially devastating fork.
The cream of the crop of forking attacks is the royal fork. This overwhelming blow uses a single piece (a knight or bishop is often employed) to perform a simultaneous check and attack on the queen. As the king must be moved to evade the check, this leaves the queen open to capture, changing the course of a game.
MORE: Best Chess Video Games
Here is the original post:
8 Chess Terms Every Player Should Know - GameRant
- Ukraine loses Shevchenko, one of the world's top 60 chess players - Ukrainska Pravda - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Chess: Magnus Carlsen loses on home ground in Norway to 18-year-old Indian - The Guardian - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Enzo Maresca, Chelsea and the chess thesis that explains his football vision - The Athletic - The New York Times - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Bill Walton Gave Off Vibes That He Was a Chess Master While Playing For The Celtics, But Lost To Danny Ainge In ... - Barstool Sports - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- In age of teenage prodigies, 61-year-old Pia Cramling, who once beat Korchnoi and saw teenaged Anand taking 1st steps on board, still going strong -... - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Norway Chess: Hikaru Nakamura shows hes the king of confessional room; Vaishali rises to top of standings - The Indian Express - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Newish Trade Kidbro Magnetic Chess Games Due to Ingestion ... - Consumer Product Safety Commission - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Master chess players uniting for Hall of Fame celebration - KETV Omaha - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Rapport Returns To Play For Hungary In Budapest Olympiad, Teams Up With Leko - Chess.com - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- GothamChess, Oro, Cramling And Rosen In Madrid Chess Festival - Chess.com - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Chess.com Returns To TwitchCon In Rotterdam - Chess.com - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Bullet Brawl - All The Information - Chess.com - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Norway Chess: Pragg obtains first-ever classical win over Carlsen - Chess News | ChessBase - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Titled Tuesday - May 28, 2024 - Chess.com - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Coquille High School hosted South Coast Chess Tournament - Coos Bay World - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- 12-Year-Old Erdogmus Breaks Polgar's 35-Year-Old Rating Record - Chess.com - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Norway Chess Women: Vaishali stuns Humpy, grabs the lead - Chess News | ChessBase - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Hopkinton first grader wins national chess title - Hopkinton Independent - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Norway Chess notes: Hungry Magnus Carlsen, Pragg wins with one second on clock and more - The Indian Express - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Pawns in Power Play: Afghan Children Caught in the Political Chess Game with the Taliban - Hasht-e Subh - Hasht-e Subh Daily - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AUSTRALIA VS SLOVAKIA LCWL LIVE 960 FINAL - Chess.com - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Mei Xiang/MXYY Magnetic Chess Games Due to Ingestion ... - InvestorsObserver - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- World Chess Hall of Fame hosts new exhibition: Clash for the Crown - Chess News | ChessBase - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Candidates Chess 2024 Highlights: Vidit Gujrathi beats Nakamura; Gukesh vs Pragg ends in draw - The Indian Express - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Memory game: The art of remembering lines in chess - Hindustan Times - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Situationer: Tehrans move more chess than a show of strength - DAWN.com - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- The Paramount Sale Vulcan Chess Theory - Puck - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Candidates - Vidit beats Nakamura, Tan regains the sole lead - Chess News | ChessBase - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Fantaspoa 2024 Review: MASTERGAME (Mesterjtszma), Visually Compelling Thriller with Chess, Trains and Bathroom Fights - ScreenAnarchy - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Candidates chess results and standings after Round 9: Vidit Gujrathi shocks Nakamura; Gukesh and Pragg draw - The Indian Express - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- TIPSY Chess | WINNING after blundering 2 pieces in the opening! - Chess.com - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Chess: How emotional players add to the theatre of the battle scowling, banging pieces, wild expressions - The Indian Express - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Reporting on the FIDE Candidates - Chess.com - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Titled Tuesday - Chess.com - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Bullet Brawl April 14, 2024: Bortnyk Clutches Bullet Brawl With 28-Game Win Streak - Chess.com - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- FIDE100 torch relay celebrated in Canada - Chess News | ChessBase - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Candidates Chess 2024 standings after Round 7: Gukesh drops down to second after time trouble against Alireza - The Indian Express - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Chess Cheating Scandal | Produces a double-edged offspring - Chess.com - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Candidates 2024: How do the chess players deal with a rest day of such a hectic event? - The Indian Express - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- FIDE Candidates: Gukesh, the silent slayer, calmly collecting wins to climb atop leader board, jointly with Nepo - The Indian Express - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- The Kwok scam only pits the ants #WenguiGuo #WashingtonFarm - Chess.com - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- The Inspiring Chronicle of a Blind Champion - Chess.com - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Candidates Chess, Round 8: What's next for Indian grandmasters in Toronto - Firstpost - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Chess Candidates 2024 Highlights: 17-year-old Gukesh wins after 6-hour marathon to rise to top of standings - The Indian Express - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Candidates: D Gukesh shrugs off round 7 heartbreak to defeat Vidit Gujrathi; rises to joint lead in standings - The Indian Express - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- JEFF POWELL: Franz Beckenbauer was truly great as a player and a manager... and I had the privilege of watchin - Daily Mail - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Israel's playing poker while Iran is playing chess | Boaz Ganor | The Blogs - The Times of Israel - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Chess: Hastings plans to revive its vintage years - Financial Times - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Columbus area Kindergartner proves to be one of the best chess players in the U.S. - ABC6OnYourSide.com - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Chess champion's stark response after being stripped of title for defecating in bathub - The Mirror - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Tuesday Afternoon Chess Club - Honolulu Star-Advertiser - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Things to do in Loveland on Monday: Community Dance, chess games, mahjong - Loveland Reporter-Herald - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Columbus area Kindergartner proves to be one of the best chess players in the U.S. - WTOV Steubenville - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Open calls for 2024 and 2025 bids' chess competitions - IBSA International Blind Sports Federation - International Blind Sports Federation - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- 8-Year-Old Roman Shogdzhiev Amazes Chess World By Beating 5 Grandmasters - Chess.com - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Exploring Wisconsin's chess scene, Examining why counties are collecting birth expenses from unwed fathers - Wisconsin Public Radio - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Make your big move at the Bon Soo chess tournament - SooToday - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Project Macon: Checkmate to crime, chess initiative cultivates critical thinking in youth - wgxa.tv - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Study of the Month: To be human is? - ChessBase - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- University of Missouri Wins 2024 Pan-American Intercollegiate Championship for First Time in School History - uschess.org - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- PROGRESS WITH CHESS Class - Northeast Ohio Parent - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Two Russian players sanctioned at World Chess Championship for shameful collusion video - Yahoo News - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Abhijeet Gupta wins the Caplin Masters in Hastings - ChessBase - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- A narrowly missed record: Viktor Kortschnoi against the World Champions - ChessBase - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Who is Andrew Tate's dad Emory? Meet the American chess international master and father of controversial socia - Daily Mail - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Chinese chess player sues to reclaim the title he lost for defecating in a hotel bathtub - Index-Journal - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Chinese chess player sues to reclaim the title he lost for defecating in a hotel bathtub - WPLG Local 10 - January 6th, 2024 [January 6th, 2024]
- Chess pro risks DQ after refusing to shake Russian opponents hand - Dexerto - January 6th, 2024 [January 6th, 2024]
- Leading chess site bans Russian Grandmaster over visits to occupied Ukraine - . - January 6th, 2024 [January 6th, 2024]
- White to move and mate in two #453 -- Better Chess for Average Players - Daily Kos - January 6th, 2024 [January 6th, 2024]
- Winter Wrap-Up: Sitges, SPICE and Everything Nice - uschess.org - January 6th, 2024 [January 6th, 2024]
- FIDE announces the first-ever World Cup for youngsters - FIDE - January 6th, 2024 [January 6th, 2024]
- TX guv credited for winning political 'chess match' in busing policy - American Family News - January 6th, 2024 [January 6th, 2024]
- Le Wins Bullet Brawl Ahead of Nakamura, Naroditsky - Chess.com - January 6th, 2024 [January 6th, 2024]
- Exclusive: Carlsen Confirms He Will Formally Decline Candidates Invitation - Chess.com - January 6th, 2024 [January 6th, 2024]
- Chinese chess player sues to reclaim the title he lost for defecating in a hotel bathtub - ABC News - January 6th, 2024 [January 6th, 2024]
- Announcing The 2023 Chess.com Awards Winners - Chess.com - January 6th, 2024 [January 6th, 2024]
- Vote For The 2023 Chess.com Awards - Chess.com - January 6th, 2024 [January 6th, 2024]
- The Biggest Chess Prizewinners In 2023 - Chess.com - January 6th, 2024 [January 6th, 2024]
- Nakamura Begins 2024 With Another Win, Leads Titled Cup - Chess.com - January 6th, 2024 [January 6th, 2024]