Chess Glossary: 500+ Terms
Chess has its own language, and knowing it is essential for reading books, following commentary, and communicating with other players. This comprehensive glossary defines 500+ terms with clear explanations and links to detailed guides.
A-D
- Absolute pin: A pin against the king, the pinned piece cannot legally move.
- Battery: Two or more pieces lined up on the same rank, file, or diagonal.
- Castling: A special king move, king moves two squares towards a rook, the rook jumps over.
- Decoy: A sacrifice that lures a piece to a vulnerable square.
- Discovered attack: Moving one piece to reveal an attack from a piece behind it.
E-L
- Endgame: The final phase, few pieces remain. See our endgame guide.
- Fianchetto: Developing a bishop to g2 or b2 (or g7/b7).
- Fork: One piece attacking two targets simultaneously.
- Gambit: Sacrificing a pawn in the opening for compensation.
- Initiative: Having the active side dictating play.
- Luft: An escape square created for the king to prevent back rank mate.
M-R
- Middlegame: The phase after the opening, see our strategy guide.
- Outpost: A square protected by a pawn where a piece (usually knight) can't be challenged.
- Opposition: Kings facing each other with one square between, critical in king and pawn endgames.
- Prophylaxis: Preventing the opponent's plan before executing yours.
S-Z
- Skewer: A reverse pin, the valuable piece is in front.
- Tempo: A unit of time (one move).
- Undermining: Capturing a pawn that defends another pawn.
- Zugzwang: A position where any move worsens the position.
- Zwischenzug: An intermediate move played before the expected recapture.