There are lots of chess terms that are used in the course of the game and to describe the game. Here we look at some of the commonly used chess terms below.
Adjournment: This occurs when an incomplete game is stopped and later continued. The player who has to start is required to write down the next move that he plans on making on a slip of paper and submit it to the referee. When the game restarts this is the move that has to be played.
Blockade: is a strategical method. In this move a player lines up his chess spices in such a way that it blocks the way of another, more important piece –usually the king – from enemy attack.
Castling: A move in which the King chess piece and the Rook exchange places. Here, the King moves to two squares on any side and the Rook makes a similar movement. This is the only chess move where the King is allowed to move two squares at once. This move is allowed only once during the game.
Check: When a direct attack is made on the opponent's king by one of the chess pieces.
Double attack: is a dual attack of any two chess pieces of the enemy by another chess piece.
Mate: this is when a piece is able to check the opposing king, and no defense is possible after that point. This is the aim of very chess player when a game commences.
Pawn Breakthrough: this happens when one or more pawns get sacrificed in order to move a pawn across the chess board. This pawn will later be promoted in status to create a piece of higher value right in the enemy court.
Perpetual Check: This situation happens when the opposing king becomes the object of a series of inescapable checks. This is often a last resort move of a player who is desperate not to lose the game.
Sacrifice: Pieces are voluntarily given up to the opponent in the hope of obtaining other kinds of advantages like attack and check.
Stalemate: A situation wherein the player who has to make the move has no legal moves with his/her pieces and pawns and his/her king is not checked.
Time Control: The method of timekeeping wherein a player is allowed a specified amount of time for the number of moves that he can make. Normally, according to the practice in vogue in International tournaments, a player is allowed 2 hours for 40 moves. An analogous concept is that of “Time Pressure” where a player has limited time to complete his or her moves as the time limit is set to be exhausted.
Variation: A combination or sequence of moves positions and plays. In Chess, there are many variations that are possible.
Winning Move: A move which creates a position from which a player can win the chess game.