Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Chess Terms [I-L]
  Glossary of Chess Terms, Definitions, and Acronyms Chess has a rich vocabulary with many terms and acronyms ranging from from ACP to Zwischenzug. Here we provide an alphabetical list of chess terms along with their definitions as well as various acronyms and their definitions. It is our intention for this to be the most comprehensive and complete list available on the Internet. Our glossary of terms and acronyms will be updated on a regular basis as our readers inform us of additions. [ICCA] [ICCF] [ICGA] [IFSB] [Illegal Move] [IM] [Imbalance] [Indian Opening] [Initiative] [Innovation] [Intermediate Move] [Interzonal Tournaments] [Intuitive] [Irregular Opening] [Isolani] [Isolated Pawn] [J'adoube] [K] [King] [Kingside] [Knockout Tournament] [Liquidation] [LTD] [Luft] ICCA [Top] Acronym International Computer Chess Association. Side Note The International Correspondence Chess Association was founded in 1945, as was the successor of the IFSB, Internationaler Fernschachbund, founded in 1928, which evenutally was renamed the ICGA in 2002. ICCF [Top] Acronym International Correspondence Chess Federation. Definition The official worldwide organisation for all forms of correspondence chess to orginize, develop, and promote the study and practice of international correspondence chess. Brief History Founded in 1945, as successor of the IFSB (Internationaler Fernschachbund), founded in 1928. ICGA [Top] Acronym International Computer Games Association. Brief History Originally founded as the ICCA in 1977 by computer chess programmers as a means to organise championship events for computer programs. Renamed the ICGA in 2002. Nowadays, the broader scope of the ICGA reflects the more general way in which computer-game capability contributes to Artificial Intelligence and to the human experience of game-playing. IFSB [Top] Acronym Internationaler Fernschachbund. Brief History In the 19th century chess clubs and magazines started to organize more regular tournaments, national as well as international tournaments. Finally in 1928 the first international league (IFSB) was founded. Succseeded in 1945 by the ICCA. Illegal Move [Top] Definition A move that either, moves a piece in an illegal manner, or results in an illegal position. IM [Top] Acronymn International Master. Definition An individual with the intermediate International Chess Title. Side Note Chess titles are awarded by recognized international organizations like FIDE and ICCF for outstanding performance in competitions against other world-class players. Imbalance [Top] Definition Any difference between the White and Black positions, such as a material advantage, superior pawn structure, superior minor piece, space, development and the initiative are all typical imbalances. Indian Opening [Top] Definition A family of openings starting 1.d4 Nf6, instead of 1.d4 d5. Side Notes The term came into widespead use in the 20th century. Two of the most popular Indian defenses are; King's Indian 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7. Nimzo Indian 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4. Initiative [Top] Definition In a game of chess the initiative belongs to the player who can make threats that cannot be ignored, which require the opponent to meet the threats before considering his own threatening moves. Side Note When your opponent is defending, and you are attacking, or putting pressure on him, it is said that you have the initiative. The initiative usually arises from an advantage in; time = better development, or space = better mobility. The player with the initiative can often parlay the threats into a material advantage or an attack on the opponent's King. Innovation [Top] Definition A new move in an established position or opening. Intermediate Move [Top] Definition A player interposes a move to achieve a favorable objective. Side Note See also, Zwischenzug Interzonal Tournaments [Top] Definition Tournaments organized by FIDE. History A stage in the World Chess Championship cycle. Basically, the plan was that the cycle would last three years. In the first year, every FIDE member nation would hold a national championship. The top players would qualify to the Zonal tournament. The world was divided into zones. Large countries such as the USSR and the United States had their own zone. Smaller countries would be grouped into a zone with many countries. For example, all of South and Central America combined was originally just one zone. There were originally no Asian or African zones, because there were no countries in those continents that were members of FIDE. The top players in each Zonal tournament would come together and play in the Interzonal tournament. Typically, the Interzonal tournament would have about 24 players. The top placegetters, e.g. the top six in 1958 would qualify to the Candidates Tournament, which would take place the following year. They would be joined in the Candidates by the loser of the previous candidates final and the loser of the previous world championship match. The winner of the Candidates tournament would play a 24 game match with the World Champion the following year. From 1948 to 1993, the FIDE Interzonal tournament was the second stage of the qualifying cycle for the World Chess Championship. The participants were successful players from preliminary zonal tournaments plus unsuccessful players from the third stage of the preceding cycle. The successful players in the Interzonal qualified into the third stage of the cycle, the Candidates' tournament. From 1948 to 1970, the Interzonal was a single round robin tournament. From 1973 to 1979, two tournaments were held, and from 1982 to 1987, three tournaments were held. The last two Interzonals, in 1990 and 1993, were Swiss Systems. In 1997 and afterwards, the Interzonal was replaced by the World Championship Knockout (elimination) tournament. Intuitive [Top] Definition Usually a sign of experience, it enables a player to choose a move, plan by feel, or to use common sense as opposed to detailed analysis. Irregular Opening [Top] Definition When the first one or two moves played are used far less frequently than other more common openings. Example On White's first move, 1.g4 and 1.a3, among others, are considered irregular. After 1.e4 (which is not irregular!) 1...b6 and 1...f5 are irregular. Side Note The evolution of opening theory has reduced considerably the number of irregular openings. The move 1.b3, which was once highly irregular, has been played by some of the greatest chess grandmasters. Motivations Since your opponent has probably not studied it, there is little chance that you will fall into a prepared variation. An otherwise well-prepared opponent might have trouble coping with the unfamiliar positions that arise. Disadvantage Playing an irregular opening is that it has some logical flaw which makes it less attractive than other openings. For example, 1.a3 ignores the center and develops nothing. The move 1.g4 ruins White's Kingside. Isolani [Top] Synonym Isolated Queen's Pawn. A term coined by Aron Nimzovitch, 1886-1935. Brief History Nimzovitch wrote in his book, My System, Part II, Ch.3, "The problem of the isolated QP is in my opinion one of the cardinal problems in the whole theory of positional play. We are concerned with the appraisal of a statically weak Pawn, who, however, notwithstanding his weakness, is imbued with dynamic strength." Side Note Nimzovitch considered the problem of Hanging Pawns to be related, and broke the problem into two parts: 1. The isolani as an end game weakness, and 2. The isolani as a weapon of attack in the middle game. Isolated Pawn [Top] Definition Pawns that have no other pawns of the same color on adjacent files. Example A common opening that allows an isolated pawn is 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Ngf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 Bd6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.0-0 Nge7 9.Nb3 Bd6 10.Nbd4. Side Note The negatives of an isolated pawn are its inability to be guarded by a friendly pawn and the fact that the square directly in front of it usually makes a fine home for an enemy piece since no pawns can chase it away. On the positive side, it offers plenty of space and the use of two half open files (on either side of it), with the result that one’s pieces usually become active. J'adoube [Top] Definition J’adoube [Ę’adub] is a French term and an internationally recognized phrase used by chess players, the English translation being “I adjust”. The phrase gives warning from a player to his opponent that he is about to adjust the position of a chess piece; normally to centralize it on its square. The touched piece rule requires that a warning be given, and whilst this French term is customary, it is not obligatory. A player may adjust a piece only when it is his turn to move. Pronunciation zha-doob ('zh' like the 'G's in the words 'George' and 'Georgia') K [Top] Definition Abbreviation for King. King [Top] Definition A King is one of the six chess pieces, and is the piece of the highest value, which requires the most protection. Side Note Each player has one King at the start of the game. A King moves one square in any direction, except when castling. Kingside [Top] Definition The half of the board originally occupied by the King, K-Bishop, K-Knight and K-Rook. The kingside is on the right of the player with the White pieces and on the left of the player with the Black pieces. Knockout Tournament [Top] Definition The knockout tournament is also known as an elimination tournament. It is usually structured as a series of short matches. A player who loses a match is eliminated from the event. Brief History London 1851, the first international tournament, used the knockout format. The event was won by Adolph Anderssen of Germany. In 1997, FIDE introduced the knockout format in its World Championship. The last undefeated player became the new World Champion. Five knockout tournaments were held at irregular intervals, with various adjustments to the rules. In 2005, FIDE announced that the knockout tournament would henceforth be called the World Cup. It was reconfigured as a qualifying tournament to the Candidate's matches which would determine the World Champion. Liquidation [Top] Definition A term used to denote a series of exchanges that are initiated to quell an enemy attack or to trade off to a drawn, or won endgame. LTD [Top] Acronymn Local Tournament Director Luft [Top] Definition Literally meaning “air,” in chess it describes a pawn move in front of one’s King that prevents back rank mate possibilities. Note: This is a work in progress. As more terms are added this will be updated for their terms and definitions. Eventually, a separate section will be added for acronyms. You can help us make this the most complete list of chess terms by adding your comments to Chess Speak - What are they talking about? |
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