Chess and Checkers Vocabulary

A chess piece that moves diagonally in any direction, and through any number of consecutive unoccupied squares.

B

In chess or checkers, the playing surface, made up of 64 squares in an 8 x 8 configuration, although some variations of checkers use surfaces of a different size.

B

To remove an opponent’s chess piece from the board, usually by landing one’s own piece in the square it occupies.

C

To remove an opponent’s checker from the board by jumping over it with one’s own piece.

C

A special move, allowed once per game per player, in which a player can move the king two squares toward a rook and place the rook on the king’s other side.

C

An attack on a king by an opposing piece, when it is possible to end the attack.

C

Also called a “man,” an individual playing piece in checkers.

C

A game-ending attack on a king by an opposing piece, i.e., an attack from which the king cannot escape.

C

To place a second checker on top of one that has reached the row of squares farthest from the player who controls it.

C

A situation in chess where neither player can checkmate their opponent’s king by any sequence of legal moves.

D

In checkers, two jumps made one after another as part of the same move.

D

A method (only possible under certain circumstances) of capturing an opponent’s pawn without landing on the same square.

E

A vertical column of squares.

F

A chess piece that typically moves exactly one square horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

K

A checker that has reached the row of squares farthest from the player who controls it, and which may now move either backwards or forwards.

K

The row of squares farthest from a given player.

K

A chess piece that moves in an “L” shape: two squares vertically and one horizontally, or two horizontally and one vertically, potentially jumping over other pieces in the process.

K

A chess piece that can only move one square forward at a time, except on its first move, when it can move two squares forward. It moves forward vertically, except when capturing one of its opponent’s pieces, in which case it moves diagonally.

P

The conversion of a pawn to a queen, bishop, knight or rook (at the player’s choice) when it reaches the row of squares farthest from its initial position.

P

A chess piece that can move any number of vacant squares vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.

Q

A horizontal row of squares on the playing surface.

R

A chess piece that moves any number of unoccupied squares, either vertically or horizontally.

R

The situation in chess in which the player whose turn it is is not in check and has no legal move.

S

The chess rule (not always observed in casual play) that dictates that a player who touches one of their pieces during their turn must then move it — as their turn — if has a legal move.

T

In checkers, three jumps made one after another as part of the same move.

T