ChessWorld Glossary
ChessWorld Hitchhiker's Guide to ChessScope: 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 ExamplesGlossary Course Modules with Tactical Puzzle ExamplesA | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | [O] | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | ZOWhen pawns or pieces occupy squares, they physically are on those squares as opposed to controlling them from a distance. Because they are physically on those squares, they exert influence and pressure *from* those squares, as well as sometimes have blockading implications. The Hypermodernists, (see Schools of Chess), would argue though that if one of the main benefits of occupation by pawns is square control, then perhaps square control can be achieved without making pawn structure commitments. Pawn structure commitments are made because of the fact that pawns unlike pieces cannot move backwards. Therefore if you move a pawn from d7-d5, and later need to protect the e5 square, the pawn cannot go backwards to d6. If White plays 1.d4 White is occupying the d4 square with a pawn. If Black plays d5 black also is occupying a central square with a pawn. It should also be noted however, that Black is also physically blockading the further movement of White's pawn:-
From a hyper-modern school, (see Schools of Chess), perspective, it would seem more flexible for pawn structure to instead try and contest control of d5, and also exploit the relatively new weakness created by 1.d4. To this end, the Nimzo-Indian system which starts off with the move 1..Nf6 aims instead often to exert control on e4 and d5. So for example:- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Nf3 Bb7
Black exerts a great deal of pressure on e4 and also d5. Black's d pawn has not yet been committed to d5. The Hypermoderns have often argued that control is more important than occupation. But if d5 was played, then White's pawn is also physically restrained and blockaded. Blockade is also a very important Nimzovichian hyper-modern concept, which can most simply be achieved by occupation. However, if the game does occur as follows:- 1.d4 d5 Then White can immediately challenge Black's occupation of d5 and therefore also attempt to lift the blockade of the d pawn, with: 2.c4
Which would add further weight to the argument that "occupation" is more committal than "control" because once a square is occupied by a pawn, there are further commitments needed to maintain it. This is more evident in the Queens Gambit than the King's Gambit. The King's Gambit, which in principle would seem as strong as the Queens Gambit, is not as tactically sound because it potentially weakens White's king more, and also black can often hang on to the pawn with exf4 very comfortably. This might be why there is no equivalent of 1.d4 Nf6 for the 1.e4 opening - because 1..e5 is a perfectly good move as both 2.f4 and 2.d4 have particular issues. if 2.d4 then Black has exd4 followed by Nc6 gaining a tempo on White's queen. The Hypermodernist Richard Reti would often avoid a committal 1st pawn move by instead playing 1.Nf3 and let Black occupy the center, so later Black would be subject to attack. Classicalists might argue that occupation of the center with pawns also means that outpost squares are reinforced. For example, after 1.e4, there are potentially reinforced outpost squares on e5 and c5:-
Today, the most popular first moves remain as 1.d4 or 1.e4 with also the English opening with 1.c4 being very popular. Moves such as 1.b3, (The Bird's opening), or 1.g3, (Benko's system), are less popular. However, the legacy of the Hypermoderns also remains popular today with, for example, the Nimzo-indian defence being one of the most popular ways to defend against 1.d4. Additionally 1...Nf6 is a very popular alternative to the classical 1...d5 when White plays 1.d4.  Find Relevant Videos | View Tip as Course Module | ||||
Odds
Games where "odds" were given were quite fashionable in the Romantic era of chess in the 19th century. Find Relevant Videos | View Tip as Course Module | ||||
Open file
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Open Game | ||||
Opening | ||||
Opposition
If it is White to move here, the logical result would be a draw. If it is Black to move, then the logical result is a loss for Black. The Opposition is very important in Endgames especially where it is decisive which player's turn it is - because of Zugzwang. Here is an excellent video by Jrobychess about opposition: Find Relevant Videos | View Tip as Course Module | ||||
Outpost
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Outside Passed Pawn
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Overloading | ||||
Overprotection
The following link shows an annotated game made up which made fun of Nimzovich Funny annotated game exaggerating the power of overprotection An intriguing question is whether or not Nimzovich was inspired by his predecessors in particular Steinitz who also apparently used the notion of "Overprotection" in his games, such as the example game below:
Often in Overprotection examples as a preliminary, one side gives up "occupation" of the central squares for "Control" of the central squares. In the above Steinitz game, White did this with the move 4.exd6. In many Nimzovichian examples, the Advance French defence is used to illustrate it with dxc5 being played. Fischer's use of 'Overprotection' with the 2.d3 system against the FrenchIn some Fischer games where he has used a seemingly quiet 2.d3 system against the French defence, he has later employed what is arguably an Overprotection of e5. Especially highlighted with manoevers such as Nd2-f1-e3-g4 or Nd2-f1-h2-g4. And the move move h4-h5, Bishop move Bf4, etc. By reinforcing the e5 square, Fischer was able to successfully attack opponents from this quiet variation against the French defence. Find Relevant Videos | View Tip as Course Module | ||||
