Algebraic notation
Algebraic notation records chess moves using piece letters, destination squares, captures, and additional symbols…
Learn the term100 ESSENTIAL CHESS TERMS / A–Z
Basics Chess Terms
Explore basics chess vocabulary with clear definitions, examples, related concepts, and study guidance from the ChessRankings.com glossary.
20 chess terms
A
B
Bishop
A bishop moves diagonally and remains on the same color of square throughout the…
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Castling
Castling is a special king-and-rook move that relocates the king two squares toward a rook and brings the rook…
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Check
Check means that a king is under attack. The player in check must make a legal move that removes the…
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Checkmate
Checkmate occurs when a king is in check and the side to move has no legal way to escape that…
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Chessboard
A chessboard is an eight-by-eight grid of 64 alternating light and dark squares on which a standard chess game is…
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Diagonal
A diagonal is a line of squares meeting corner to corner. Every square on a single diagonal has the same…
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Draw
A draw is a tied chess result. It may arise through agreement or through specific rules such as stalemate,…
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En passant
En passant is a special pawn capture available immediately after an opposing pawn advances two squares past a pawn…
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File
A file is a vertical column of eight squares, identified by a letter from a to h in algebraic…
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Increment
Increment is time added to a player's clock after a move according to the event's clock…
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King
The king moves one square in any direction and must never be left under attack. Checkmating the opposing king is…
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Knight
A knight moves two squares in one direction and one square perpendicular to that direction. It can jump over…
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Pawn
A pawn moves forward but captures one square diagonally forward. On its initial square, it may advance two squares…
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Promotion
Promotion occurs when a pawn reaches the farthest rank and is replaced by a queen, rook, bishop, or knight of the…
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Queen
The queen combines the rook's straight-line movement with the bishop's diagonal movement, traveling any…
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Rank
A rank is a horizontal row of eight squares, numbered from one to eight from White's…
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Resignation
Resignation is a player's decision to concede a game rather than continue playing…
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Rook
A rook moves along ranks and files through any number of unobstructed squares. Rooks become especially effective…
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Stalemate
Stalemate is a drawn position in which the player to move is not in check but has no legal…
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