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We have to add that our approach of all this basic notions will be inevitably personalized, in conformity with our objectives. In this Web page we bring together main terms currently used for referring to Chess moves. This rather rich vocabulary is useful, even if some terms are more or less similar and seems to make double use. In fact, our opinion is that each name has its own specificity and moreover that a judicious use of each one allows usually to produce documents at the same time more alive and clear. In order to give to the present chapter a certain unit, we made the choice of a presentation by topics, organized around some key ideas.
1o) Thematic Moves (THMO:) A Thematic Move is a "natural" and "very usual" developing move intervening during the opening or the beginning of the middle game, precisely until the end of the Thematic Middle Game (THMG:). The majority of moves played during this initial phase like: e4,d4, Nf3, Nc3 or Nbd2, Be2, Bg5, 0-0, Qc2, Re1 etc..., and symmetrically for Black, are of this type. The main difficulty is not to choose such moves but to decide in which order they should be connected to constitute an opening line. Let us consider, for example, the beginning: [A43-q4*]
OBD: Old Benoni defense: 1.d4 c5 2.d5 g6 3.e4! Bg7 4.Nf3 d6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Be2 0-0 7.0-0 Na6!? 8.Bf4 Nc7 9.a4 b6 10.h3 Bb7 11.Re1... All this moves are of this kind; in particular the last one 11.Re1
is effectively a Thematic Move There is here a great difficulty of interpretation. One can indeed be tempted to consider that to choose a thematic move result necessarily from a superficial judgment. It is a complete error and we will express in conclusion (at the beginning of the next chapter) our feeling at this subject. 2o) Book Move (BOOM:) A Book Move is, in a given position, a move found in a book, an encyclopedia or all other reference. A priori such a move intervenes exclusively during the Opening, but it is not so simple. Effectively, by this appreciation one can refer to a learned by heart close (similar) line, as well to a grandmasters game which one takes more or less as a starting point, or equally more generally to a bookish manner of playing... It is in this sense that there is undoubtedly here a pejorative judgement. 3o) Mechanical Move (MECM:) By Mechanical Move we mean an apparently natural move, played without too much reflection and not fulfilling necessarily the requirements of the position. It is clear enough that it is a bad manner to play, as well in the opening as in the continuation of the game. 4o) Developing Move (DEVM:) A Developing Move is a move intervening efficiently into the framwork of the general plan of development of a camp. For example, in the game:
Marshall, Frank - Blackburne, Joseph H [A43-b] ENG-USA cable m
England (1), 1909 - Chess-Theory Analyzed Game No 044 The Marshall's developing move: 3.Nc3 is a better answer than trying to conserve the pawn.
Evidently playing developing moves is not a priori criticable. Nevertheless the concept of "developing" belong to the Classical Chess Theory (CCT:) and is clearly improved by the modern idea of "initiative", which belongs to the Modern Chess Theory (MCT:). You will find more details on this question in a forthcoming paragraph of this chapter. Let us nevertheless make clear that we have proposed the notion of developing move in this first paragraph for two reasons:
1o) Active Move (ACTM:) An Active Move is a move playing rather often a role in the development, but mainly in the battle for the initiative (see: Initiative Move). 2o) Aggressive Move (AGGM:) An Aggressive Move is an active one, with possibly a pejorative idea of excess and risk. Nevertheless this kind of move deserves attention and permits sometimes to great and clairvoyant chess players to carry out true exploits. We propose you a fine example, in the easily recognizable Keres' style:
Grunfeld, Ernst - Keres, Paul [A43-b8*] Przepiorka men Szczawno
Zdroj, 1950 - Chess-Theory Analyzed Game No 065 Effectively interesting and rather aggressive is the move: 9...g5!
prolonged by 12...g4! and 17...g3! 3o) Initiative Move (INIM:) Richard Reti confronts clearly both terms: "Development" & "Initiative"; an Initiative Move is very often a development move in the classical meaning. But, moreover, it is precisely a move holding account of the position and dictated by objectives that the player assigns to himself taking justly into account this position. One can thus recommend to any player to make as much as possible the choice of initiative moves and to connect such ones... Again this is the best way to make durable the initiative. We will return to this question later, in this chapter. 4o) Break Move (BRM:) A Break Move is a move of a pawn putting it in side contact with an enemy pawn, allowing the opponent to exchange. This kind of moves has a great theoretical importance and must be prepared with much care. In our recent Analyzed Games you will find many example of such moves. A particularly interesting example is given by the historical chess game:
Staunton, Howard - De Saint Amant, Pierre Charles [A43-m] Paris (4),
1843 - Chess-Theory Analyzed Game No 051
where Staunton plays at the right time the well prepared Break Move: 21.f4!
You may note, on this diagram, the activity and the good coordination of Staunton's chessmen (blue balls), which develops as much this break move. 4o) Constraining Move (COTM:) A Constraining Move is a move leading to more or less forced answers and in any case reducing rather strongly the freedom of choice of the adversary. An example may be find in the game:
Kochyev, Alexander - Alburt, Lev [A43-m**] URS-ch FL46 Ashkhabad
(9), 1978 - Chess-Theory Analyzed Game No 056
with the move: 22.f4!
Through this example it is easy to understand that many qualifiers may be simulteneously used; thus this move is equally an active move or an initiative move. Nevertheless there are here nuances to seize according to each case. 5o) Decisive Move (DECM:) A Decisive Move is a move having a decisive influence on the futur unfolding of a game, like on its conclusion.
Usually a Chess player do not lost time by pleasure, by distraction or incompetence. However, it occurs that it is necessary to have a break in action. It also occurs that in certain cases it can be interesting to let play the adversary, in a situation where he cannot benefit from it. Finally certain moves of protection or prevention can prove to be useful; sometimes essential. All this reasons justify the interest of using some other kind of moves shortly presented here... By the way we signal equally inadvisable: "premature, passive or inadequate moves"! 1o) Intermediate Move (INTM:) An Intermediate Move is a move linking together two Moves or more generally two Move Sequences; for example an intermediaite move may occurs between two check series. Let us notice that an intermediate move is also very often a Priming Move (PRIM:). 2o) Priming Move (PRIM:) A Priming Move is a move which finds its principal justification in the preparation of an action to come. 3o) Premature Move (PRTM:) & Inadequate Move (INAM:) A Premature Move is a move not sufficiently prepared or/and not coming at the right time. An Inadequate Move is a move not fulfilling the requirements of the position. 4o) Passive Move (PASM:) A Passive Move corresponds to the displacement of a piece (pawn or figure) without real motivation and ambition, rather representing a recess on hold. It is not particularly difficult to find an example of passive move played by a strong player, even by a grandmaster! Analysing the Immortal Zugzwang Game: Friedrich Samish vs Aaron Nimzovitch, played at Copenhagen in 1923, we find a typical case:
Saemisch, Friedrich - Nimzovitch, Aaron [E06] Copenhagen, 1923 -
Chess-Theory Analyzed Game No 068 In the following position:
Saemich plays the passive move: 17.Qd1? Better is: 17.Bf3 Nf6 18.Bf4 b4 19.Nb1 Ba4 20.Qe3 =/+ 5o) Waiting Move (WAMO:) A Waiting Move is an intermediate move forcing the opponent to play, when this one has any good move at his disposal. 6o) Waiving Move (WVMO:) Waiving Move: In a closed position, the displacement of a figure, behind the line of pawns, in order to optimize the arrangement of pieces for a later attack. This supposes that the adversary does not have really a very good move at his disposal. Howard Staunton was the first player to try out this type of move.
1o) Defensive Move (DEFM:) A Defensive Move is a move intervening in a defensive action. This kind of move is particularly easy to recognize; also we do not emphasise. 2o) Offensive Defensive Move (OFDM:) An Offensive Defensive Move has a double action. It intervenes in defense but equally in attack; very often this last consequence results precisely from the displacement of a piece in defense (defensive action) this one discovering a hidden piece (see in the
Chess-Theory Glossary : Hidden Piece or Discovered Attack)
which is able to attack the opponent (offensive action).
This situation is not rare at all. A good example is given again by the game:
Polugaevsky, Lev - Eising, Johannes [A43-w5*] Solingen (3), 1974 -
Chess-Theory Analyzed Game No 060 Eising plays the excellent defensive move: 20...Ne8!
But simultaneously the powerful g7-Bishop is released and threatens clearly the a1-Rook! 3o) Forced Move (FRCM:) A Forced Move is a (defensive) move which, in a given position, the side having to play is more or less obliged to choice. 4o) Consolidation Move (CONM:) In particular in a game closed, or even more or less open, it is sometimes useful to play a Consolidation Move in view to reinforce his position.
Some other specific moves intervene, from time to time, in the unfolding of a game. It is wise to know to recognize them. 1o) Obstructive Move (OBSM:) An Obstructive Move is a move, generally of a pawn, having the objective to block off a line (file, rank or diagonal) usuful for the opponent. 2o) Prophylactic Move (PROM:) A Prophylactic Move is a move in accord with the general principle of Prophylaxis: this is a strategy explored by Nimzovich. Taken from the Greek word prophylaktikos, meaning to guard or prevent beforehand, prophylaxis (or a prophylactic move) stops the opponent from taking action in a certain area for fear of some type of reprisal. Overprotection is a form of prophylaxis (see:
www.JeremySilman.com - Glossary of Chess Terms ).
When the King castles short, a typical prophylactic move is Kh1 (Kh8) and when the King castles long Kb1 (Kb8) . We may propose various examples like the following interesting game that we choose a new time:
Marshall, Frank - Blackburne, Joseph H [A43-b] ENG-USA cable m
England (1), 1909 - Chess-Theory Analyzed Game No 044 Blakburne plays the necessary prophylactic move: 23...Kb8
Evidently it is interesting to know if such a move was in competition with other moves of different natures; and then for which reason it was privileged. We will reconsider later on this kind of question. 3o) Pin Move (PINM:) A Pine Move is a move of a Queen, a Rook or a Bishop attacking directly an enemy piece (pinned piece) and preventing (in principle) this one to move because an enemy chessman of greater value is on the same trajectory. An Absolute Pin Move (APIM:) is a pin move such that the pinned piece protect the King. Then all move around of the pinned piece (apart from the attack trajectory) exposes directly the King to the attack and consequently is an illegal move. A Relative Pin Move (RPIM:) is a pin move such that the pinned piece protect the Queen or (and) a Rook or anaway all chessmen other that the King. In this case there is a relative freedom to drive away the pinned piece. Such is besides the origin of superb sacrifices. 4o) Mysterious Rook Move (MYRM:) Mysterious Rook Move: Following a Nimzovich's idea, a move with a Rook that seems to have no threat or purpose, but which actually discourages the opponent from a certain type of action (see: Prophylaxis), or sets up a very deep, well-concealed plan (see:
www.JeremySilman.com - Glossary of Chess Terms ).
People do not understand anything to the Chess game without realizing the central place occupied by material sacrifices and discovering their main motivations. Studying many games one discovers their rich palette, their large variety; but at the same time the possibility of classifying them according to their dominant characteristics. 1o) (Material) Sacrifice (SACR:) A Material Sacrifice is the result of a move (sequence), where the side having the initiative sacrifices material to obtain in compensation dynamic advantages like: A Speudo-Sacrifice is an apparent sacrifice, with later recovery of the material. However this type of exchange is a constraint imposed on the adversary, which very often comprises interesting dynamic aspects. In light, the assessment can prove to be positive for the attacker. Sometimes sacrifices occurs in more complicated situations like a Double Sacrifice; this is two linked sacrifices having generally a common objective. We will study later, in this chapter, such a combination. 2o) Quality Sacrifice (QUSA:) A Quality Sacrifice results of the exchange between a Rook of a camp and a minor piece of the other. Being given that a Rook is worth a minor piece plus two pawns, one can still speak about sacrifice of quality in the event of exchange of a Rook against a minor piece plus a pawn. The Quality sacrifice is a frequent theme in a chess game. Also, it is interesting and instructive to study with precision its consequences, as we will have many occasions to make it on this site. 3o) Bishop & Knight Sacrifices (BISA:) (KNSA:) A Bishop or a Knight is often sacrificed for a pawn (sometimes two or three pawns). The main usual examples are the sacrifices in f7 (f2), h7 (h2) or h6 (h3) (in this last case, if Black (White) has advanced his h-pawn of a square). In each cases the objective is to demolish the kingside castling and to expose the adverse King to future attacks. One finds similar minor piece sacrifices concerning other situations like the attack against the queenside castling. 4o) Rook Sacrifice (ROSA:) More a piece is powerful more its sacrifice is spectacular. Also, a Rook Sacrifice for one, two or three pawns is a significant event on the chessboard. A Rook is able, by its sacrifice to: Still more spectacular is the double sacrifice of both Rooks. 5o) Queen Sacrifice (QUSA:) A Queen Sacrifice is the most fascinating sacrifice it is possible to imagine on the chessboard. Undoubtedly it is rarer than others, but brilliant examples do not miss. In this particular sacrifice like in other ones, we have to think to the following rules: Some Queen Sacrifices will be studied in forthcoming chapters of this lecture, in Chess-Theory analysed games, as well as in other parts of this site.
We conclude this Chess move classification by adding some specific sacrifices that it is useful to recognize. 1o) Sham Sacrifice (SHSA:) A Sham Sacrifice is a move which on the face of it appears to be a sacrifice, but if accepted will yield the player offering the piece a gain in material or a strong positional advantage (see:
Chess-Poster.com - Chess Glossary ).
2o) Clearing Out Sacrifice (COSA:) The objective of a Clearing Out Sacrifice is to open one (sometimes two) strategic line(s) (file(s), diagonal(s) or rank(s)), in view to a future action. Sometimes the sacrified piece is obstructing this line, but it happens equally that the line is obstructed by an enemy piece; in this last case the intention is to deviate this one and the move is a Deviation Sacrifice. 3o) Destructive Sacrifice (DSSA:) Destructive Sacrifice: Sacrificing material to destroy the pawn cover or other protection around the enemy King. Usually a point of no return (see:
www.arkangles.com/kchess/ - Glossary of chess terms )
4o) Deviation Sacrifice (DESA:) A Deviation Sacrifice is a sacrifice whose the goal is to deviate an enemy chessman either from the square that he occupies, or from lines which he controls, or again from the sector where he is useful for a given role. This kind of sacrifice is rather frequent and very often intervenes during an attack, in complement of other actions. 5o) Obstructing Sacrifice (OBSA:) An Obstructive Sacrifice is a sacrifice having for objective to block off a line (file, rank or diagonal) useful for the opponent. We will study later some typical examples. 6o) Mating Sacrifice (MASA:) A Mating Sacrifice is a sacrifice of which the intention is to lead to a checkmate by an explicite way.
Among many contributions of the Soviet School of Chess, we are particularly interested by the notion of Candidate Move and finally all the methodology in view to choose a good move. At this subject a classical reference is the famous Alexander Kotov work: "Think like a Grandmaster". 1o) Canditate Move (CADM:) In a given game a player has to play and is confronted to the difficult problem of the choice. After having studied carefully the position he selects a small number of moves, which seem to him likely to be played; this ones are names Candidate Moves. Usually you may select 6 moves, or less according to the case; it is a reasonnable average choice. The second stage consists in separately examining each selected move, to measure precisely its advantages and inconveniences. In this accurate study it happens very often that one has to change a rather bad move for a better one. In other words the set of candidate moves is not rooted, fixed once for all. It may change during the examination. Last remark: in certain positions the answer is more or less forced or evident; then you have to adapt the number of candidate moves by holding account of these data. 2o) Choice of a move Let us consider the set of candidate moves in its ultimate form. According to the above remarks, their number is usually less than or equal to six. Finally the third stage is the choice of the appropriate answer. This one is in principle one of the 6 (or less) candidate moves, but exceptionally it occurs that it is not the case.
We select now two chess games where we will examine attentively the "nature" of moves selected and played by both players. 1o) Anand, Wiswanathan (2755) - Ponomariov, Rusian (2743) D27 (46) 1-0, Duel of the World Champions rapid, Mainz, 2002 This game is a Queen's Gambit Accepted. Evidently Ponomariov don't try to conserve the pawn. All the beginning is well known and has been played many times at the top level.
This beginning is a D27-totally pure opening, played for the first time in the game Tarrasch, Siegbert - Wolf, Heinrich D27 (49) ½-½, DSB-15 Kongress, 1905 and currently played about 2000 times. White has only a little advantage. All moves of this line may be considered as "thematic" and equally "developing" moves. It is also useful to notice that this phase of the game is the Opening Theoretical Phase (OPTP:). Let us continue:
We reach here the Opening Critical Phase (OPCP:). The last move is a "consolidation" and equally a "developing" move. Now we propose you to reflect, just a moment, to the problem of select "candidate" moves and to "choose" finally the right answer. In a first time may be selected: ( "candidate" moves):
Only the two first answers have been hold down at the top level. About the first answer 11...e5! we agree partially with the judgment: "After this strong move Black gets a space advantage. White has to play accurately now to egalize the game" (Huzman; ChessBase). let us go on:
It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the classification of moves is far from being univocal. Thus "thematic" moves are generally also "development" moves. At this subject, 15... Qe7 is presented like an "intermediate" move, but it owns a certain degree of "initiative" because the Black Queen threatens the unprotected g5-Knight; this way we may consider also that it is a "constraining" move!... But this is only in a relative meaning. The game Anand-Ponomariov proceeds like this:
This position is rather equilibrated and the final result of this confrontation may be a draw. Nevertheless it is well evident that Anand is presently searching for a win! The game enter now in a decisive phase:
The Anand's two Knights sacrifice is spectacular and correct; but not decisive. Effectively after: 26...Kxg7 27.Qg4+ Kh7 28.Qxe6 Qd8 29.Qf7+ Kh8 30.Bxf6+ Bxf6 31.Bxb7 Bd4 the game is equal. But it is not always easy to appreciate such situations. In fact sacrifices play also a psychological role of destabilizing.
Mc Shane (ChessBase) notices here: 27...Qf4 28.Nxe7 Kxe7 29.g3 =/unclear Qg5 is very unclear.
Now Ponomariov encounters great difficulties to continue the fight.
With four pawns for a Knight, an active Queen, a strong Bishop and a King in safety White wins now easily: 40...Nd2 41.Qxh6 Nxc4 42.Qf8+ Ka7 43.Qxb4 Nb6 44.e6 Nc8 45.Qd4+ Kb8 46.Qe5 1-0 A very fine Anand's demonstration!. 2o) Anderssen, Adolf - Kieserizky, Lionel C33 (23) 1-0, London "Immortal game", 1851 This very famous romantic game begins by:
The Anderssen's novelty 7.d3?! is not a very good idea and, so to speak, has never been played since. Now Kieseritzky tries an action on the kingside:
According to Max Euwe: 14...Nxg4 (?? in our mind) 15.Rxg4 Qxh5 16.Bxf4 +- In this beginning it appears that White has a significant initiative of the kingside, largely compensating for the sacrificed Bishop.
This Double Rook sacrifice is impressive; not only Anderssen allows Kieseritzky's Queen to capture the second Rook, but he practically forbid to him any other choice by blocking the long diagonal a1-h8.
This last move is equally a "deviation" sacrifice. And now the end: 22...Nxf6 23.Be7# *** NEW CHESS THEORY :
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