Guide to Tempo in Chess
Tempo, a single unit of time in chess, equivalent to one move, is one of the most fundamental concepts in the game. Gaining a tempo means achieving a goal in one fewer move than expected; losing a tempo means wasting a move. In sharp positions, a single tempo can be the difference between winning and losing.
What is a tempo
A tempo is one move of time. If your opponent must spend a move retreating a piece that you attacked, you've "gained a tempo", you've forced them to waste a move on a non-productive task. Common ways to gain tempo:
- Attack a piece while developing.
- Make threats that force the opponent to respond.
- Play with threats that accomplish two goals at once.
Tempo in the opening
In the opening, each tempo is critical. Moving a piece twice wastes a tempo. Capturing a pawn at the cost of development wastes tempi. The principle "don't move the same piece twice" exists because of tempo, every wasted move gives the opponent a development advantage. See Chess Principles for opening tempo rules.
Tempo in the middlegame
Tempo gains in the middlegame come from:
- Threats that force the opponent to react defensively.
- Intermediate moves (zwischenzug) that gain time within a sequence.
- Prophylactic moves that prevent the opponent's plans, effectively wasting their preparation. The concept of initiative is essentially a sustained tempo advantage.
Tempo in the endgame
In endgames, tempo takes on special importance. Zugzwang is the ultimate tempo concept, forcing the opponent to move when any move worsens their position. Triangulation, manoeuvring the king in three moves to transfer the move, is a tempo technique. The opposition itself is a tempo relationship between the kings.