Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Chess Terms [M-N]
  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. [Main Line] [Major Pieces] [Majority] [Maneuver] [Master] [Mate] [Material] [Material Advantage] [Material Piece Value] [Mating Attack] [Middle Game] [Miniature] [Minor Exchange] [Minor Pieces] [Minority] [Minority Attack] [Mobility] [Move Order] [Mysterious Rook Move] [Norm] [Notation] [NTD] Main Line [Top] Definition The principal most important, or most often played variation of an opening, or piece of analysis. Example In the King's Indian Defence, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 is often referred to as the main line. Major Pieces [Top] Definition The Queens and Rooks are the major pieces. So called because they are the only pieces which can checkmate without the aid of the King. Side Notes The terms major and minor pieces are used generically to differentiate the pieces which can and can't checkmate with the aid of the King alone. See also Minor Pieces Also called Heavy Pieces. Majority [Top] Definition A larger numbers of pawns on one flank opposed by a smaller number of the opponent's; often a player with a majority on one flank has a Minority on the other. Example White has undoubled Pawns on the a-, b-, and c-files facing undoubled Black Pawns on the a- and b-files, with neither player having a d-Pawn. White has a Queenside majority, while Black has a Queenside minority. Side Notes The terms majority and minority refer to an unequal number of Pawns on one of the flanks. A Pawn majority for one side is almost always accompanied by a Pawn minority on the other side. See also Minority and Crippled Majority Maneuver [Top] Definition A series of quiet moves that aim to favorably reposition one’s pieces. Master [Top] Definition A player becomes a master when he reaches an Elo rating of 2200. Side Note A player will loose this title if thier rating drops below 2200. Mate [Top] Definition Short for Checkmate, it means that you have threaten the enemy King, and nothing your opponent can do will prevent its loss. Material [Top] Definition All of a player's pieces and pawns on the board, excluding the Kings. Material Advantage [Top] Definition The player with pieces and pawns of greater value is said to have a, 'material advantage.' Side Note When a player gains a material advantage they are also said to be, 'making material.' Material Piece Value [Top] Definition When you win a pawn, or a piece in an exchange, you are said to be winning, 'material.' Mating Attack [Top] Definition An attack on the King that is expected to lead to a checkmate. Middle Game [Top] Definition The phase of the game between the opening and the endgame, beginning after the pieces are developed in the opening. Side Notes Although it has no official start, it is usually signalled by completing the development of the pieces off their start squares, roughly moves 20 through 40. Also known as Midgame. Miniature [Top] Definition A miniature is a short game, generally lasting less than 20 moves. Side Notes To create a miniature, the losing side has to make at least one serious mistake, or blunder. The shortest game possible is 1.f4 e6 2.g4?? Qh4 checkmate, also known as Fool's Mate. Short chess video on Fool's Mate Minor Exchange [Top] Definition The exchange of a bishop for a knight. Minor Pieces [Top] Definition The Bishops and Knights are known as minor pieces. Minority [Top] Definition The terms majority and minority refer to an unequal number of Pawns on one of the flanks. A Pawn majority for one side is always accompanied by a Pawn minority on the other side. Side Note A Pawn minority can be an advantage in certain situations where the player owning the minority can advance it to create a weakness in the opposing majority. This is called a minority attack. See also Majority Minority Attack [Top] Definition An advance of pawns on the side of the board where one has fewer pawns than the opponent. Explanation A plan based on the use of two or more pawns, the minority, to act as battering rams against the opponent’s three or more pawns, the majority, carried out to provoke a weakness in the opposing camp. Example One of the most common opening sequence by which a minority attack is reached: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Nf3 0-0 7.e3 c6 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.Qc2 Re8 10.0-0 Nf8 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.b4 Be7 13.b5 Bd6 14.bxc6 bxc6. Side Note White has carried out his minority attack and has left Black with a weak pawn on c6 and a weak square on c5. After a further Rfc1, Rab1 and Na4 White will have great pressure against Black’s queenside. This plan is very important to understand, and situations for its use are constantly arising. Mobility [Top] Definition To have freedom of movement for one’s pieces, or of the entire army with the ability of a piece, or of a player's pieces collectively, to move around the board. Side Note An advantage in mobility is often associated with an advantage in space. The player with greater mobility can switch the attack from one area of the board to another faster than the opponent can switch the defense. Move Order [Top] Definition The sequence of moves one chooses to play, such as an opening, or to execute a plan. Examples Different move orders often have different advantages and disadvantages. For example, 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 avoids the Budapest Defense (2.c4 e5!?), but makes it impossible for White to play the Sämisch Variation (2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3) or Four Pawns Attack (5.f4) against the King's Indian Defense, and to transpose to certain lines of the Nimzo-Indian Defense and Queen's Gambit Declined, Exchange variation where the knight goes to e2 instead of f3. Mysterious Rook Move [Top] Definition A move with a Rook that seems to have no threat or purpose, but which actually discourages the opponent from a certain type of action, usually to discourage the opposing player from opening the file, or sets up a very deep, well-concealed plan. Side Note See also Prophylaxis Norm [Top] Definition A performance at a chess tournament that indicates a player is ready to receive a title, or the level of performance needed. Side Notes In addition to other requirements, a certain number of norms is generally required to earn a title. See also Grandmaster and Master. Notation [Top] Definition A method of recording the moves of a chess game. Side Notes The most important notaions are Algebraic, Descriptive, and Figurine. See also our chess tutorials on Algebraic Notation and Descriptive Notation. NTD [Top] Acronym National Tournament Director. Note: This is a work in progress. As more terms are added this will be broken into alphabetical sections from A-Z for terms and definitions, and 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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