Backward pawn
A backward pawn lags behind neighboring friendly pawns and cannot advance safely, often becoming a target on a…
Learn the term100 ESSENTIAL CHESS TERMS / A–Z
Strategy Chess Terms
Explore strategy chess vocabulary with clear definitions, examples, related concepts, and study guidance from the ChessRankings.com glossary.
19 chess terms
B
C
Center
The center usually means d4, e4, d5, and e5, the four central squares that influence movement across the…
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Compensation
Compensation is the collection of positional or tactical benefits that offset a disadvantage, often a material…
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Doubled pawns
Doubled pawns are two friendly pawns on the same file, usually created by a…
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Initiative
The initiative is the ability to create threats or set problems that make the opponent respond rather than pursue…
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Isolated pawn
An isolated pawn has no friendly pawn on either adjacent file, so it cannot be protected by another…
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Material
Material is the collection of pieces and pawns a player possesses, often compared using approximate piece…
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Middlegame
The middlegame is the phase in which developed pieces and established pawn structures support attacks,…
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Minority attack
A minority attack uses fewer pawns against a larger opposing pawn group to create a weakness rather than simply…
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Open file
An open file contains no pawns of either color, allowing rooks and queens to operate along it more…
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Outpost
An outpost is a useful square, often in or near enemy territory, where a piece can remain securely and exert…
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Pawn chain
A pawn chain is a diagonal group of pawns that protect one another, with each pawn supporting the next from…
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Pawn majority
A pawn majority is a numerical advantage in pawns on one part of the board, often the kingside or…
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Pawn structure
Pawn structure is the arrangement of pawns and the lasting patterns of strengths, weaknesses, and available breaks…
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Prophylaxis
Prophylaxis means anticipating the opponent's useful ideas and taking measures to prevent or reduce their…
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Semi-open file
A semi-open file is a file on which one side has no pawn while the opponent still has at least one…
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Space
Space is the amount of useful territory a side controls for maneuvering its pieces, often supported by advanced…
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Tempo
A tempo is a unit of time in chess, usually represented by one move that advances a useful…
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Weak square
A weak square is a square that is difficult to defend effectively, often because nearby pawns can no longer…
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