Back-rank mate

A checkmate delivered along the defender's back rank, often because the king is trapped behind its own pawns.

主教對

Having both bishops while the opponent does not. The bishop pair can become powerful in open positions because the bishops cover both color complexes.

Castling

A special king-and-rook move that usually improves king safety and helps bring a rook toward the center.

Center control

Influence over the central squares, especially e4, d4, e5, and d5. Controlling the center usually gives pieces more mobility and makes attacks easier to coordinate.

Connected rooks

Rooks are connected when no pieces stand between them on the back rank. This usually means your minor pieces are developed and your king has moved out of the way.

Development

Bringing pieces from their starting squares into active positions. In the opening, this usually means getting knights and bishops into play before moving the same piece repeatedly.

Discovered attack

An attack revealed when one piece moves out of the way of another piece behind it. Discovered attacks can be especially dangerous when they create a threat with tempo.

雙卒

Two pawns of the same color on the same file. Doubled pawns can be weak, though they sometimes come with compensation such as open files or extra central control.

Early queen moves

Moving the queen early in the opening. This can create threats, but it can also let the opponent develop pieces while attacking your queen.

恩路桑

A special pawn capture available immediately after an opposing pawn moves two squares and lands beside your pawn.

Fianchetto

Developing a bishop to g2, b2, g7, or b7 after moving the nearby pawn. The bishop then controls a long diagonal.

File

A vertical column on the chessboard, labeled a through h. For example, the a-file runs from a1 to a8.

叉子

A tactic where one piece attacks two or more enemy pieces or targets at the same time.

Half-open file

A file where you have no pawn but the opponent still has one. Rooks often become active on half-open files because they can pressure the opposing pawn or position.

Hanging piece

A piece that can be captured profitably. Hanging pieces are often undefended or insufficiently defended.

孤立的典當

A pawn with no friendly pawns on adjacent files. Isolated pawns can become targets, though they may also give space and open lines.

Kingside castling

Castling toward the h-file side of the board. It is the shorter and more common castling option.

Loose piece

A piece that is not defended by another piece or pawn. Loose pieces often make tactics easier for the opponent.

Material

The pieces and pawns each side has. Winning material means gaining pieces or pawns without giving back equal value.

Open file

A file with no pawns on it for either side. Rooks and queens often become more active on open files.

通过典当

A pawn with no opposing pawns ahead of it on its file or adjacent files. Passed pawns are dangerous because they can advance toward promotion.

Pawn chain

A group of pawns protecting one another diagonally. Pawn chains can support space and restrict enemy pieces.

典當島

A separated group of pawns. More pawn islands usually means more pawn weaknesses to defend.

插銷

A tactic where a piece cannot move freely because moving it would expose a more valuable piece or the king behind it.

Promotion

When a pawn reaches the farthest rank and becomes a queen, rook, bishop, or knight.

Queenside castling

Castling toward the a-file side of the board. It is the longer castling option and often creates sharper positions because the kings may end up on opposite sides.

Rank

A horizontal row on the chessboard, numbered 1 through 8. For example, White's back rank is the first rank.

Repeated piece moves

Moving the same piece multiple times in the opening. Sometimes it is necessary, but doing it too often can leave the rest of your pieces undeveloped.

Seventh rank

The rank where a rook attacks pawns near the opponent's starting position. A rook on the seventh rank can pressure pawns and restrict the enemy king.

串燒

A tactic where a valuable piece is attacked and, after it moves, a less valuable piece behind it can be captured.

Tempo

A move's worth of time. Gaining tempo often means making a useful move while forcing the opponent to respond.