Chess A-Z

A

Notation system using letter-number pairs to identify squares on the board

B

A very bad move

C

Player with the highest FIDE rating as of April 2022

D

A possible outcome of a game of chess in which neither side wins or loses

E

The only capturing move in chess that does not land on the captured piece

F

Checkmate in two moves

G

The highest title that a player can achieve, awarded by FIDE and valid for life

H

Two pawns of the same color on adjacent files, with no pawns of the same color on the files either side of them

I

The amount of time added to each player's clock before each move

J

Expression used when adjusting pieces

K

The most important piece in chess

L

One of the two diagonals with eight squares (a1–h8 or h1–a8)

M

The part of a chess game that follows the opening and comes before the endgame

N

Opponent of C in the 2021 World Chess Championship

O

Opening with the moves 1. e4 e5

P

Term for a pawn that is able to advance through the board and promote without getting under attack

Q

White's left side and Black's right side

R

Term for a horizontal row on the chessboard

S

Position in which the player to move is not in check but has no legal move

T

The allowed time to play a game, usually measured by a chess clock

U

Promoting a pawn to a rook, bishop, or knight instead of a queen

V

A chess-like game that is not chess itself

W

Slang for pieces

X

When the power of a piece, either to attack or to defend, seems to pass through an intervening enemy piece

Z

Situation in which any legal move would get the player into disadvantage