Common Jargon Used in Chess
It's fun to play and win at chess. Chess strategies are problem solving challenges that look for checkmate solutions. But before any remedy is derived we have to be familiar with chess jargon. Here are some common terms in alphabetical order.
"Advanced Pawns" are those that have gone past the board centerline, which is in-between ranks 4 and 5. An "Advantage" is having a better play situation than the opponent in terms of chess pieces, timing, and positioning. "Algebraic Notation" refers to reference coordinates to plot the location of chess pieces. An "attack" is an offensive move by players using any piece.
"B" is the abbreviation for a bishop piece. A "Backward Pawn" is a pawn left behind by other pawns and is unsupported by them. A "Bad Bishop" is a useless bishop trapped amid other pieces. A "Bishop" is a minor piece that runs diagonally. "Blockade" is a formation or position blocking a piece, like a pawn from being promoted. "Breakthrough" is when we have penetrated enemy territory.
To "Calculate" is to see the effect of a move beforehand, or to see the odds of something happening. To "Capture" is to neutralize a piece in a legal manner to send it off the board for the rest of the game. "Castling" is an act of re-positioning the king and the rook for defense purposes. "Center" refers to the four squares right in the geometrical center of the chess board. To "Check" is a very common chess jargon that means a major piece is in danger of being captured. "Checkmate" is when a king is checked for good without any escape or any remedy.
"Diagonal" is a movement direction on the board made by certain chess pieces. "En Passant" is French for "in passing." It means capturing a starting pawn that by-passes an advanced enemy pawn. "Fortress" is a strong enemy formation. "Gambit" is an opening strategy. A "Good Bishop" is a useful bishop. A "King" is the most important piece in chess, though limited in power. A "Knight" is a horse piece. A "Pawn" is the lowest ranked piece in chess. "Position" is how pieces are located on the board along with other pieces. A "Queen" is a major piece next to the king and the most powerful chess piece. A "Rook" is a major piece that runs vertically and horizontally.
With this list of basic chess jargon we can start playing the game at beginner level. As we play the game and read more chess literature our chess glossary will increase.