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Chess Terms

Seventeen chess terms explained in plain language by Anton Shuravin, with examples. Search by name or by meaning, filter by category, or jump to a letter.

17 terms 6 categories 10 letters covered
All 17 terms / search ↑↓ move ↵ open

B4 terms

StrategyBackward Pawn — White's d3 pawn is behind its neighbors on c4 and e4, cannot be defended by a pawn, and faces a rook on the half-open d-file Backward Pawn A pawn left behind its neighbors that can no longer be defended by another pawn. Read the guide → StrategyBad Bishop — Black's light-squared bishop on c8 is hemmed in by its own pawns on d5, e6 and f7, all on light squares Bad Bishop A bishop hemmed in by its own pawns on the same color squares. Read the guide → PiecesBishop — a bishop on d4 sweeping the long diagonal toward h8 Bishop How the bishop moves, its value and how to use the bishop pair. Read the guide → TacticsBlunder — the knight on e5 was left hanging and the d6 pawn simply takes it Blunder A serious mistake that loses material or the game, and how to avoid them. Read the guide →

C2 terms

Special movesCastling — White is ready to castle kingside, the king going from e1 to g1 and the h1 rook jumping to f1 Castling The only move that shifts two pieces: rules, sides and mistakes to avoid. Read the guide → RulesCheck — the rook on e1 attacks the black king down the open e-file Check When the king is attacked: what it is, and the three ways to escape. Read the guide →

E2 terms

Special movesEn Passant — Black has just pushed d7-d5 past the e5 pawn, and White captures on d6 in passing En Passant The special pawn capture that surprises most beginners: when and how it works. Read the guide → Game phasesEndgame — king and pawn against king, where the kings decide the result Endgame The final phase of the game, where king activity and passed pawns decide. Read the guide →

K1 term

PiecesKing — the king on d5 covers the eight squares around it, one step in any direction King How the king moves, where it starts and how to keep it safe. Read the guide →

M1 term

Game phasesMiddlegame — pieces developed on both sides and White massing against the castled king Middlegame The phase between opening and endgame: plans, structures and piece activity. Read the guide →

P2 terms

PiecesPawn — from its starting square a pawn may step one square or two Pawn Rules, moves, captures and how pawn structures shape the game. Read the guide → Special movesPawn Promotion — the d7 pawn steps to d8 and becomes a queen, rook, bishop or knight Pawn Promotion How a pawn becomes a queen: the rules and tactics of promotion. Read the guide →

Q1 term

PiecesQueen — the queen on d4 moves like a rook and a bishop at once Queen The most powerful piece: how it moves and how to use it without overextending. Read the guide →

R1 term

PiecesRook — a rook on the open d-file, sweeping it from d1 to d8 Rook How the rook moves, open files and the power of rooks on the 7th rank. Read the guide →

S2 terms

TacticsScholar's Mate — 4.Qxf7 mate, the queen supported by the bishop on c4 Scholar's Mate The four-move checkmate, how it works and how to defend against it. Read the guide → RulesStalemate — Black is to move, is not in check, and has no legal move: the game is drawn Stalemate When a player has no legal move and isn't in check: a draw, not a loss. Read the guide →

T1 term

StrategyTriangulation — the white king walks d4, c4, c5 and back, using three moves to do the work of one and handing the move to Black Triangulation An endgame technique to lose a tempo and put your opponent in zugzwang. Read the guide →
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Where these terms show up

Each card links to a full guide with diagrams. These three sections put the same ideas into real games.

Chess puzzles →Drill the patterns behind the tactical terms: fork, pin, skewer, mate in 2. Opening guides →82 guides across 1.e4, 1.d4 and flank openings, with main lines and plans. Play chess →Train an opening against a human-like bot, or take on a chess legend.