BRING YOUR VISION INTO ACTION
Complete Chess Vocabulary Guide by Chess Visionaries
If you want to improve your chess rating, win tournaments, or become FIDE rated, you must first understand the language of chess.
At Chess Visionaries, we believe clarity creates confidence.
Here is your complete chess terminology roadmap — explained simply in 2–3 lines per concept.
51. Calculation
Thinking ahead several moves.
52. Candidate Moves
Possible good moves you consider before choosing.
53. Prophylaxis
Preventing your opponent’s plan.
54. Zwischenzug
An in-between move before the expected move.
55. Clearance
Removing a piece to open a line.
56. Deflection
Forcing a piece away from defense.
57. Attraction
Luring a piece to a bad square.
58. Overloading
A piece defending too many things.
59. Interference
Blocking a line between opponent pieces.
60. Decoy
Forcing a piece to move to a target square.
61. Minority Attack
Using fewer pawns to attack more pawns.
62. Pawn Break
A pawn push to open position.
63. Outpost
A strong square protected by a pawn.
64. Good Bishop
Bishop not blocked by own pawns.
65. Bad Bishop
Bishop restricted by own pawn structure.
66. Closed Position
Pawns block the center.
67. Open Position
Few pawns in center; pieces are active.
68. Semi-open Position
Partially blocked center.
69. Zugzwang
Any move worsens your position.
70. Fortress
Defensive setup impossible to break.
71. Triangulation
Losing a tempo to gain opposition.
72. Lucena Position
Winning rook endgame technique.
73. Philidor Position
Drawing rook endgame method.
74. Underpromotion
Promoting to something other than queen.
75. Perpetual Check
Repeated checks leading to draw.
76. Time Control
Amount of time given in a game.
77. Rapid
10–60 minute format.
78. Blitz
Very fast chess (3–5 minutes).
79. Classical
Long time control games.
80. Swiss System
Pairing method used in tournaments.
81. Rating
Numerical strength measure.
82. Performance Rating
Rating based on tournament result.
83. Gambit
Sacrificing material for initiative.
84. Counterplay
Creating threats while defending.
85. Compensation
Positional advantage for lost material.
86. Exchange Sacrifice
Giving rook for minor piece.
87. Fianchetto
Developing bishop to g2 or b2.
88. Battery
Two pieces aligned on same line.
89. Pawn Majority
More pawns on one side.
90. Central Break
Opening the center with pawn push.