ChessWorld Hitchhiker's Guide to Chess

Scope: This glossary does not intend to cover player names, opening names, or Composition terms. The Glossary aims to relate the terms to ChessWorld where possible when giving examples.
If you have contributions, corrections or questions, please post them to the Chess Forum for discussion.
There is a dedicated Chess Openings Glossary

Glossary Course Modules with Game Examples

Glossary Course Modules with Tactical Puzzle Examples

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L

Laws of Chess
The official rules of the game as governed by the World Chess Federation (FIDE).

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Legal move
A move made in accordance with the Laws of Chess.

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Line
A general term used for a rank, file or a diagonal.

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Lucena position
The following video annotation by Majnu illustrates a very important endgame concept which can be used to win rook and pawn endings where you are a pawn up. The "bridging" manoever is critical to winning the position as the video demonstrated:

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Luft
"Luft" is a German term meaning "air". A player can create "luft" by giving the king an escape square. An example is shown below:-

Analyse position

Here White would be advised to give the King an escape square with a move like g3 or h3. This would enable the White rook to move off the 1st rank, without being the victim of the so called "Back rank mate".

So for example if White played the move h3, then White could be said to be making "luft" - by providing an escape square h2 for the King:-

Analyse position

If Luft was not made, and White did play a rook move off the 1st rank, then a back row mate would occur, as shown below:-

Analyse position

After White plays the only legal move Re1, then black plays Rxe1 mate

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