(usually ironic) A sophisticated strategy that is far beyond the comprehension of others, in which apparent blunders are simply indicators of yet-to-be-understood brilliance.
(chess) A checkmate pattern in which a rook provides the checkmate to the cornered king while being protected by a knight that also covers the only would-be escape square.
(game of Go) A move that threatens the immediate capture of one or more stones. In chess, the closest equivalent words would be check, where a king is under attack from one or more pieces and pawns, or the state of being en prise, when a piece or pawn is undefended and can be taken without recapture.
(chess) A checkmate delivered by a major piece along the back rank against a king whose advancement is prevented by pieces of its own color (most commonly pawns).
(go) A lingering weakness in a player’s position in some part of the board, which may trouble them, especially by facilitating a later attack, by hampering their play there or by the effort required to repair it.
The chess variant invented in 1962 by mathematician Robert Abbott, or any of its descendants, where pieces move alike, but have differing methods of capture.
(chess) The chess piece denoted ♗ or ♝ which moves along diagonal lines and developed from the shatranj alfil ("elephant") and was originally known as the aufil or archer in English.
(chess) A checkmate pattern in which two bishops on criss-crossing diagonals deliver mate while the king is boxed in from the other side, usually by friendly pieces.
A chess opening in which white's king is advanced to the second rank on the second move, for example, 1.e4 e5 2.Ke2, thus preventing white from being able to castle and allowing black to develop with tempo.
(chess) A chess opening characterized by the moves 1.e4 c6, in which the white king's pawn advances two squares and the black king's bishop's pawn advances one square.
US standard spelling of Caro-Kann Defence. [(chess) A chess opening characterized by the moves 1.e4 c6, in which the white king's pawn advances two squares and the black king's bishop's pawn advances one square.]
(usually intransitive, chess) To move the king 2 squares right or left and, in the same turn, the nearest rook to the far side of the king. The move now has special rules: the king cannot be in, go through, or end in check; the squares between the king and rook must be vacant; and neither piece may have been moved before castling.
(chess) A checkmate pattern in which a queen, supported by a piece of its same color, is placed diagonally adjacent to the enemy king. The two flight squares that the queen does not control are occupied by pieces of the king's own color.
(chess) The phenomenon of draws becoming more prevalent among professional chess players, potentially leading to a loss of popular interest in competitive chess.
(chess) Often in the form Elephant Trap: a faulty attempt by White to win a pawn in a popular variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined, which is generally only effective against inexperienced players.
Alternative form of epaulette mate [(chess) A checkmate pattern in which the losing side's king is unable to escape because its two surrounding parallel flight squares are occupied by pieces of its own color. Most commonly occurs with two rooks on the back rank.]
(chess) A checkmate pattern in which the losing side's king is unable to escape because its two surrounding parallel flight squares are occupied by pieces of its own color. Most commonly occurs with two rooks on the back rank.
(chess) The development of a bishop by moving it one square to a long diagonal; specifically, a set of opening moves where a bishop is developed to the second rank of the adjacent knight file.
(chess) A rule in professional chess that a player may declare the game to be a draw after 50 consecutive moves by each side without any capture or pawn movement, usually invoked during an inconclusive endgame.
(transitive, chess) To prevent enemy pawns from advancing by directly opposing the most advanced one with one of one's own pawns so as to threaten to capture any advancing backward pawns.
US standard spelling of French Defence. [A chess opening characterized by the moves 1.e4 e6, in which the white king's pawn advances two squares and the black king's pawn advance one square.]
A common chess opening based on the Two Knights' Defence, characterized by the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nxf7 Kxf7, in which white sacrifices its king's knight to gain attacking momentum.
(chess) Designating any of various chess openings now characterised by black's attempt to control the board through knights and fianchettoed bishops rather than with a central pawn advance.
To promote a piece of draughts/checkers that has traversed the board to the opposite side, that piece subsequently being permitted to move backwards as well as forwards.
(chess) A pawn formation, primarily played against the Sicilian Defence, characterized by white pawns on c4 and e4, with White's d-pawn having been exchanged for Black's c-pawn.
In the game of go, the situation where two plays are available such that if one player takes one, the opponent will take the other one. The term applies most commonly when both possibilities give the same result.
A chess opening characterized by the moves 1.e4 Nc6, in which the white king's pawn advances two squares and the black queen's knight advances to the bishop file.
(uncountable) A chess opening characterized by the moves 1.e4 e5, in which both White and Black move their king's pawn to the fourth rank with their first move.
(chess) The most numerous chess piece, or a similar piece in a similar game. In chess, each side starts with eight; moves are only forward, and attacks are only diagonally or en passant.
Obsolete spelling of pawn [(chess) The most numerous chess piece, or a similar piece in a similar game. In chess, each side starts with eight; moves are only forward, and attacks are only diagonally or en passant.]
(games) A rule used in certain strategy games for the purpose of fairness, where immediately after the first player's initial move the opposing player may optionally switch, taking over the first player's role and position for the rest of the game.
(chess) One of the figures used in playing chess, specifically a higher-value figure as distinguished from a pawn; by extension, a similar counter etc. in other games.
(chess) Either a scenario in which moving a lesser piece to escape from attack would expose a more valuable piece to being taken instead, or one where moving a piece is impossible as it would place the king in check.
(chess) An opening characterised by Black responding to 1.e4 with 1...d6 and 2...Nf6, followed by ...g6 and ...Bg7, while allowing White to establish an impressive-looking centre with pawns on d4 and e4.
(chess) A sacrificial move in chess which is played with the intention of fatally interfering with the opponent's combination attacking or defensive position.
Something resembling a sacrifice that is not a true sacrifice, especially (chess) an offer of material made at no risk, since acceptance would lead to the gain of equal or greater material or checkmate.
A chess opening characterized by the moves 1.e4 d5, in which both the white king's pawn and the black queen's pawn advance two squares as the first moves.
(chess) The checkmate which occurs shortly after the opening, when the white queen checkmates by taking the black pawn on f7 (or the black queen taking the white pawn on f2), protected by a bishop on c4 (or c5).
A type of chess opening, in which White plays 1.e4 (moves their king's pawn to the fourth rank with their first move) and Black breaks symmetry by replying with a move other than 1...e5.
A chess opening characterized by the moves 1.e4 c5, in which both the white king's pawn and the black king's bishop's pawn advance two squares as the first moves.
US standard spelling of Sicilian Defence. [A chess opening characterized by the moves 1.e4 c5, in which both the white king's pawn and the black king's bishop's pawn advance two squares as the first moves.]
Alternative form of smothered mate [(chess) A checkmate, delivered by a knight, in which the mated king is unable to move because he is surrounded (or smothered) by his own pieces.]
A chess opening deriving from the Petrov Defence (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6) after which black gives up its king's pawn and plays the queen's knight to the C file (3. Nxe5 Nc6), especially when followed by (4. Nxc6 dxc6).
(chess) A form of chess piece now mandated for most chess competitions which were first designed by Nathaniel Cook and sold in 1849 and named for Howard Staunton, the best player of the time
(chess) A formation in chess (a variation of the Queen's Pawn Game) in which white plays pawns to d4 and several other positions, requiring black to react energetically (see Stonewall Attack).
(chess) A position in the opening of a game that occurs after a sequence of moves that is heavily standardized, and from which the players have many possible moves again.
(chess) A computerized database that contains precalculated exhaustive analysis of a chess endgame position, typically used by a computer chess engine during play.
(chess) The rule stating that, if a player intentionally touches a piece when it is their turn, they must move or capture the piece if it is legal to do so.
Alternative form of Two Knights' Defence [A common chess opening, characterized by the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6, in which black brings out both knights.]
Alternative form of Two Knights' Defence [A common chess opening, characterized by the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6, in which black brings out both knights.]
Alternative form of Two Knights' Defence [A common chess opening, characterized by the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6, in which black brings out both knights.]
A chess opening characterized by the move e4 that can turn into many opening variations, this opening is uncommon because it is considered a move that wastes a tempo (for the white's pieces).
(chess) In the endgame, a rook pawn that is unable to promote under the protection of a bishop, because the promoting square is of the color the single friendly bishop cannot control.
(chess) A tactical move which interrupts the execution of the current plan.
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