9 Chess Terms You Have to Know

Castling means moving the King more than one square in conjunction with either of the two Rooks. The goal is to place the King more safely, while at the same time moving the Rook from the corner square into a more playable position.

Castling on the King's side: Play the King to King's Knight's square, and then place the King's Rook on King's Bishop's square.

Castling on the Queen's side: Play the King to Q. Bishop's square, and Queen's Rook to Q's square.

But you can't castle at any point during the game. There are certain conditions under which a player is permitted to castle.

The King must not have moved.

The Rook must not have moved.

The King must not be in check.

The King must not pass over or on to any square attacked by your opponent.

There must be no Piece between the King and the Rook.

What is a Doubled Pawn?

Two Pawns of the same color on the same file. Generally considered a disadvantage. The front Pawn is called a doubled pawn.

What is an Isolated Pawn?

An isolated Pawn stands alone, without the support and protection of other Pawns. Generally considered a disadvantage.

To read more about Basis Pawn Strategy, click here.

What is a Drawn Game?

When you can't give checkmate.

Examples: Perpetual check. Not enough Pieces on the board to give check: A King and a Knight only, or a King and two Knights.

Both players repeat the same move over and over to avoid a loss.

When one of the Kings is stalemated.

What is a Stalemate?

When one player has his own King so positioned that, while not in check at the moment, he cannot play him without going into check.

Important: That rule only applies when

at the same time he has no other chess Piece to move instead.

What is a False Move?

Any illegal move, such as castling when the King is in check, moving a Rook diagonally, or moving a Bishop like a Knight, is called a false move.

What is a Fool's Mate?

The fastest and simplest of all checkmates. Note: Fool's Mate can't be given by the first player.

How to play a Fool's Mate?

White plays, K. Kt. P. to K. Kt's 4th. Black plays, K. P. to K's 4th.

White plays, K. B. P. to K. B's 4th. And Black plays, Q. to K. R's 5th, checkmate

What is J'adoube?

French expression, means "I arrange," or "I replace," which is used by a player when he touches a man merely to adjust its position on the board, without intending to play it.

What is Check and Checkmate?

The fundamental law of chess is that the King can never be taken. Instead, the King must be warned by the means of saying check.

The King must be moved out of check or be defended by other Pieces, by means of placing a Piece between the King and the attacking Piece, or by capturing. If that is not possible, then the game is over. Checkmate.