The Internet is a perfect venue for developing self-confidence, too. The Net shields players from personal conflict and the emotional tensions of tournament travail. Users grow intrepid, willing to take chances. They speculate, and the game profits. Chess has become more tactical, more creative.
Chess relies on transformational thinking, analytical drive, and the intuitive good sense to work out the way things really work. It’s the multipurpose, all-meaning game. Chess is part of us and part of what we do, no matter who we are or how we structure our lives.
So join the universe. Now that you’ve learned the fundamentals and promise of chess, you can play the one game with potential enough to bring us all together, human and nonhuman. To get going, just set up a set, or click it on. Better yet, have an entity do it for you.
Advantage.
Any superiority.
Analysis.
An examination and assessment of moves and position.
Attack.
A potential capture; loosely, to threaten. If you are in line to capture, that’s an attack. If you are in line to capture with advantage, that’s a threat.
Basic Mates.
Four different checkmates brought about by a team of pieces against the lone enemy king. They are king and queen vs. king; king and rook vs. king; king and two bishops vs. king; and king, bishop, and knight vs. king.
Battery.
A tactical force; two friendly pieces attacking in unison along the same line, such as a queen and a bishop on a diagonal; or a queen and a rook or two rooks along a file or a rank.
Bishop.
The piece that moves only on diagonals. Each side has two of them: a light-square bishop and a dark-square bishop.
Black.
The player who moves second at the start; initially, the defender; the darker-colored pieces.
Blunder.
A serious mistake, typically one that changes the evaluation of the position.
Calculation.
Analyzing specific sequences of moves, as opposed to general judgments.
Castle.
To move the king and rook on the same turn, usually to safeguard the king and activate the rook.
Center.
The middle four squares and surrounding area.
Checkmate.
The end of the game, when the king would be captured next move.
Combination.
A forced sequence of moves, usually involving sacrifice, leading at least to a clear improvement in position if not a win.
Counterattack.
An attack mounted by the defender; to do so.
Defender.
Player or unit under attack; Black at the start.
Defense.
A protection or response to attack; Blacks opening.
Develop.
To move a piece to a better place or improve its scope by moving impeding pawns out of the way.
Development.
Preparing pieces for action by either transferring them to better squares or moving pawn obstacles out of the way.
Diagonal.
A slanted row of same-colored squares.
Discovered Attack.
A type of tactic; another term for discovery.
Discovery.
A type of tactic, moving a unit to unveil another unit’s line of attack; also called discovered attack.
Double Attack.
Any multiple attack with potentially serious consequences. Most tactics involve double attacks or threats.
Double Check.
A type of tactic, a discovery in which both the moving and stationary attackers give check.
Draw.
A game where neither player wins. The most common way to draw is by agreement. Other ways include stalemate, threefold repetition, perpetual check, the 50-move rule, and insufficient mating material.
Elements.
Features of the position that can be evaluated to determine which side stands better. Mainly time, space, material, pawn structure, and king safety.
Endgame.
The third and final phase of a chess game, revolving around pawn promotion.
Ending.
Another word for endgame. Endgame is used more to describe the phase; ending is used more to refer to specific positions and situations in the endgame.
En Passant.
A French term meaning “in passing.” It’s a rule of the game that signifies a particular type of pawn capture; also used to describe that type of capture.
En Prise.
A French term meaning “in take.” It refers to a situation where a unit can be captured for free; also, the actual capture itself.
Exchange.
Equal trade; also, difference in value between a rook and minor piece.
Exchange Values.
The relative values of the pieces.
File.
A vertical row of squares.
Force.
The element of material; also, to control the opponent’s moves.
Fork.
A type of tactic where one unit attacks two or more enemy units simultaneously; also, to give such a tactic.
Fundamentals.
Moves, rules, and basic principles.
Gambit.
A voluntary sacrifice in the opening, usually of a pawn.
Grandmaster.
The highest official title.
Illegal.
Against the rules.
Illegal Move.
A move that can’t be played. It violates the rules and must be replayed.
Initiative.
The ability to attack and control the play.
King.
The piece both sides are trying to trap and capture. It moves one square in any direction.
Knight.
The piece that moves like a capital L. It moves in any direction.
Legal.
Referring to a permissible move or position.
Legal Move.
A move that can be played.
Line.
Any rank, file, or diagonal; also, a sequence of moves.
Lose.
To get checkmated, resign, forfeit on time, or be disqualified.
Lost Game.
A game that should lose even with best play.
Major Piece.
A queen or a rook.
Maneuver.
Repositioning of a piece.
Master.
An unofficial title for a strong player.
Match.
A set of games between the same players or teams.
Mate.
Short for checkmate.
Material.
An element; the pieces and pawns collectively or individually.
Middlegame.
The second phase of a chess game.
Minor Pieces.
Bishops and knights.
Mobility.
The freedom and ability to move.
Move.
A turn for either side.
Open File.
A file with no pawns on it.
Opening.
The beginning phase of a chess game.
Open Line.
A rank, file, or diagonal unobstructed by pawns.
Pawn.
The weakest and most numerous unit; a symbol for helplessness. It moves one square straight ahead, but has a two-square option on its first move. It captures one square diagonally ahead.
Pawn-Grabbing.
Taking pawns riskily.
Pawn Structure.
An element; all aspects of pawn placement and dynamics.
Piece.
Either a king, a queen, a rook, a bishop, or a knight, but not a pawn.
Pin.
A type of line tactic in which a friendly piece attacks a shielding enemy unit that can’t move without exposing another enemy unit or important square.
Plan.
A general course of action; a strategy.
Positional.
Concerned wi
th small points and long-term effects.
Positional Advantage.
Any non-material advantage.
Positional Chess.
A style of play that aims to accumulate small but safe advantages, first advocated and developed by Wilhelm Steinitz.
Principle.
A general truth, guideline, or piece of advice.
Promotion.
Changing a pawn into a new piece.
Queen.
The most powerful piece, able to move in any straight line.
Queening.
Promoting a pawn to a queen.
Rank.
A horizontal row of squares.
Removing the Defender.
A type of tactic; the same as removing the guard.
Removing the Guard.
A type of tactic in which an enemy unit’s defender is removed by capture, leaving it inadequately protected; also called removing the defender and undermining.
Resign.
To give up before being checkmated.
Rook.
The piece that moves horizontally or vertically.
Sac.
Short for sacrifice.
Sacrifice.
A voluntary surrender of material.
Simplify.
To avoid complications and trade pieces.
Skewer.
A type of line tactic where a friendly unit attacks an enemy unit, forcing it off line so that another enemy unit or important square can be captured or exploited.
Space.
The element concerned with territory and mobility.
Stalemate.
A game drawn when the player to move is not checkmated but has no legal move.
Strategy.
General thinking; opposite of tactics.
Tactics.
Specific threats; opposite of strategy.
Tempo.
Move as a unit of time.
Threat.
Move that must be heeded.
Threaten.
To attack in a serious way.
Time.
The element concerned with the initiative.
Tournament.
A contest in which a number of players compete.
Trade.
An exchange of equal material; also, to make such a transaction.
Trap.
A tricky way to win; also, to snare a piece.
Trapped Piece.
A piece that can’t get to safety and is in danger of being won.
Undermining.
A broad type of tactic. It involves either removing a unit’s defender, driving the defender of the unit away, or rendering it incapable of fulfilling its function.
Unit.
Any piece or pawn.
Variation.
Any sequence of moves.
Visualization.
The ability to see possible moves in one’s head.
Weakness.
Usually, a hard-to-guard pawn or square.
White.
The player who moves first at the start; initially, the attacker; the lighter-colored pieces.
Winning.
Having an advantage that should win.
Won Game.
A game that should be won with best play.
X-ray Attack.
A type of line tactic in which a friendly unit joins up with another friendly unit by attacking beyond and through enemy unit along the same line.
Zwischenzug.
A German word meaning “in-between move.” It refers to an unexpected move inserted within a sequence that affects the initially assumed consequences.
Zugzwang.
A German word meaning, roughly, “compulsion to move.” It refers to a situation where the player must move and worsen his situation.
Alekhine’s Defense
1. e4 Nf6
Benko Gambit
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5
Benoni Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5
Bird’s Opening
1. f4
Budapest Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5
Caro-Kann Defense
1. e4 c6
Catalan Opening
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5
Center Counter Defense
1. e4 d5
Center Game
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4
Dutch Defense
1. d4 f5
English Opening
1. c4
Four Knights Opening
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6
French Defense
1. e4 e6
Giuoco Piano
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5
Grüenfeld Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5
King’s Gambit
1. e4 e5 2. f4
King’s Indian Attack
1. Nf3 2. g3 3. Bg2 4. d3
King’s Indian Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6
Larsen’s Opening
1. b3
Modern Defense
1. e4 g6
Nimzo-Indian Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
Orangutan Opening
1. b4
Petrov’s Defense
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6
Philidor’s Defense
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6
Pirc Defense
1. e4 d6
Queen’s Gambit
1. d4 d5 2. c4
Queen’s Indian Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6
Reti’s Opening
1. Nf3
Ruy Lopez
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
Scotch Game
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
Sicilian Defense
1. e4 c5
Slav Defense
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6
Two Knights Defense
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6
Vienna Game
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3
Do an advanced search using the words chess, play and tournaments, and your results will be staggering. In early 2003, around 50,000 hits turn up. Rather than kill a forest listing them all here, I chose ten top sites for good mention. These sites also include links to related sites (and their links will lead you to others) for opportunities to play, study, read, or just chat about chess.
For Play
www.chessclub.com—Internet Chess Club (ICC)
www.freechess.org—Free Internet Chess Server (FICS)
www.iecg.org—International E-mail Chess Group (IECC)
www.iccf.com—International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF)
For News and Commentary
www.chesscenter.com/twic/twic.htm—The Week in Chess
www.chesscafe.com—The Chess Café
www.chessbase.com—Chessbase Net
www.bcmchess.co.uk/news/events.html
For Everything
Including anything from archived games to today’s tournament schedules, on-line lectures, products, and more.
www.uschess.org
www. LetsPlayChess.com
www.chessworld.net
Wilhelm Steinitz, Austria 1886-1894
Emanuel Lasker, Germany 1894-1921
José Raúl Capablanca, Cuba 1921-1927
Alexander Alekhine, Russia 1927-1935, 1937-1946
Max Euwe, Netherlands 1935-1937
Mikhail Botvinnik, Soviet Union 1948-1957, 1958-1960, 1961-1963
Vasily Smyslov, Soviet Union 1957-1958
Mikhail Tal, Soviet Union 1960-1961
Tigran Petrosian, Soviet Union 1963-1969
Boris Spassky, Soviet Union 1969-1972
Bobby Fischer, United States of America 1972-1975
Anatoly Karpov, Soviet Union 1975-1985
Garry Kasparov, Russia 1985-2000
Vladimir Kramnik, Russia 2000-2003
4000 B.C.
Earliest board games known at Ur in Iraq
1500 B
.C.
Egyptian game of senat developed
300 B.C.
First 8 × 8 board
500 A.D.
Chess probably created in Indus Valley
600 A.D.
Chataranga appears in Persia
625-640 A.D.
First reference to chess in literature
660 A.D.
Arabs assimilate chess
850 A.D.
First Arabic writings on chess
1008 A.D.
First European reference to chess
1062 A.D.
Earliest Italian reference to chess
1066 A.D.
Chess introduced into Britain
1100 A.D.
The board becomes checkered
About 1400 A.D.
The counselor is feminized into the queen, making the weakest piece the strongest
1474 A.D.
First book ever published in English is a chess book: Caxton’s Game and Playe of the Chesse
1497 A.D.
Luis Ramirez de Lucena publishes Repeticion de Amores y Arte de Axedres
1550 A.D.
First chess clubs organized in Italy
1575 A.D.
World’s first chess tournament in Madrid
1748 A.D.
François-André Danican Philidor publishes Lanalyze des Echêcs
1769 A.D.
Chess automaton “The Turk” appears
1786 A.D.
Benjamin Franklin publishes The Morals of Chess
1813 A.D.
First newspaper column on chess
1851 A.D.
First international chess tournament, won by Adolf Anderssen, a German mathematician
1858 A.D.
Paul Morphy wins the most famous chess game of all time at the Paris Opera
Pandolfini’s Ultimate Guide to Chess Page 22
