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Main Line: In a biginning, the principal variation used or/and analysed (Open Chess Theory). Major Piece: A Queen or a Rook (Chess Pieces). Majority: In a dissymetrical pawn structure, it happens habitually that a camp (White or Black) owns more pawns on the queenside (kingside, center) than the opponent. Then it is usual to say that this camp has the Majority on the queenside (kingside, center) (Chess Terminology). Queenside White Majority: Means a White majority on the queenside (Chess Terminology). Queenside Black Majority: Means a Black majority on the queenside (Chess Terminology ). Kingside White Majority: Means a White majority on the kingside (Chess Terminology). Kingside Black Majority: Means a Black majority on the kingside (Chess Terminology). MAN, Cornelis de - The Chess Players: «MAN, Cornelis de - (b. 1621, Delft, d. 1706, Delft)» «MAN, Cornelis de (b. 1621, Delft, d. 1706, Delft) The Chess Players c. 1670 Oil on canvas, 97,5 x 85 cm Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest Send this picture as postcard Friendly format for printing and bookmarking» (Chess Practice Today - Chess & Life - Chess Passion). Maneuver: A series of quiet moves that aim to favorably reposition one's pieces (Chess Terminology - see: www.JeremySilman.com). Marienbad 1925: Tournament won by Rubinstein and Nimzowitsch, followed by Marshall, Torre, Reti, and Tartakower (Chess Practice - Chess History - see: Chess-Poster.com).
«* A visit to the Marshall Chess Club * (Chess Practice - Chess History). Master: A title awarded by National federations affiliated with the World Chess Federation (Chess Terminology). Match: A contest between two players only, as distinguished from a tournament. The term often refers to a contest of many games, but is sometimes used to describe a single game. The first major Chess match was between La Bourdonnais and McDonnel in 1834. Also, a contest between two teams, played on several boards (Chess Practice - see: Chess-Poster.com). A (Check)Mate is a check to which the attacked King is unable to escape from it. Then it is the end of the game. The attacking player is declared the winner and the opponent (that whose the King has been put in check) lost the game. The result is usually noted 1-0 if White wins the game and 0-1 if Black wins it. Obviously generally the player having a losing play prefers to give up before being surprised by an humiliating checkmate! (Chess Terminology). A Back Rank Mate is a checkmate delivered by a Rook or a Queen along a back rank in which the mated King is unable to move up the board because he is blocked by friendly pieces, in particular by pawns on the 2th rank
(Chess Terminology - see: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). In a given position, proclaim a Mate in n (Moves) means the existence of a play line in n moves or less, whatever the answers of the adversary. Evidently the attacker is obliged to adapt his moves to the choices of the opposite camp. But in all cases the checkmate will take place in less than n moves (Chess Terminology). Material: All a player's pieces and pawns on the board. The player which with pieces and pawns of greater value is said to have a "material advantage" (Chess Terminology - see: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). Mating Attack: An attack having for objective to lead to a chekmate by an explicite way (Chess Terminology). Mating Combination (Sacrifice): A combination (sacrifice) of which the goal is to lead to a checkmate by an explicite way (Chess Terminology). A Mechanical Obstruction is an obstruction coming from opposing pawn (on the same file). (Modern Chess Theory - Hans Kmoch's Terminology). Mephisto: Constructed by Charles Godfrey Gumpel and first demonstrated in London in 1878, Mephisto was described as a Chess playing automaton. It was in fact a device which contained a person who played Chess. Operated by Isidor Gunsberg, it was the first automaton to win a Chess tournament (Chess Practice - Chess History - see: Chess-Poster.com). Computer Mind at Work: «The program is not particularly strong. I played it and won. The pieces are not represented conventionally, which makes it a bit more difficult.» «When I played my twentieth move, I was expecting to resign soon because I had hard time visualising the board.» (Chess Practice Today - Chess & Life - Chess Passion). Miniature: Also called brevity, a short game—usually about 20 moves or less. Many writers use the term only for entertaining games and therefore do not generally include draws in this category. Any Chess problem featuring seven or fewer pieces (Chess Terminology - see: Chess-Poster.com). Minor Exchange: Refers to giving up a Bishop for a Knight (or, more recently, giving up the stronger minor piece for the weaker). The term is rarely used. In most chess positions, a Bishop is worth more than a Knight because it can travel faster on the open board. As a chess game progresses, pawns tend to get traded, removing support points from the Knight and opening up lines for the Bishop. This leads to a Bishop having a slightly higher value since the endgame value of a piece tends to dominate the middlegame value (this makes sense since, without an immediate mating attack, the endgame will be what decides the outcome of the game). However, there are many occasions when a Knight can be worth more than a Bishop or even a rook (or even a queen!). (Chess Terminology - Current Chess Theory - see: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). Minor Piece: A Bishop or a Knight (Chess Terminology). Minority: Is exactly the opposite of majority. When White (Black) has a minority on a wing or in the center, Black (White) has a majority on the same wing or in the center (Chess Terminology). It is the result of an advance of pawns on the side of the board where one has fewer pawns than the opponent; this is usually carried out to provoke a weakness. Let us observe the following position on the queenside, with a Black minority attacking a White majority and let us suppose it is Black to play:
1...b4! (the right move for attacking the White majority)
After this move the White Majority is blocked!... Effectively, if White don't forget his queenside majority and persists in wanting to benefit from it, he has the choice between the following a priori unfavourable options:
Another bad alternative for White is to move forward the b-pawn:
The last conceivable White answer is the unfavorable exchange:
(Current Chess Theory). Mistake: An inaccurate move, not answering to the requirements of the position (Chess Terminology). Big Mistake is synonymous with Blunder (see: Blunder). It is rather easy to find examples of such mistakes, even in grandmasters' games. One will find a clear example in the game: 
Polugaevsky, Lev - Eising, Johannes [A43-w5*] Solingen (3), 1974 -
Chess-Theory Analyzed Game No 060 where in the relatively balanced position:
instead of continuing as it seems logical by : 39.Rgf1 Qb3 40.Qxb3 Rxb3 41.Rf3=
Polugaevsky loses definitively following two incredible blunders: 39.Rf3?? Qb2 -/+ 40.Qd7??
Hence the brilliant Eising's retort: 40...Qxg2!! 0-1
(Chess Terminology - Chess-Theory Analysis). Fatal Mistake: A big mistake which intervenes in a critical position and leading very quickly to a fatal issue. Obviously, in the above game, the Polugayevsky's answer : 40.Qd7?? was a Fatal Mistake! (Chess Terminology). Tactical Mistake: A mistake arising in a series of moves and showing a bad appreciation of the position; is synonymous with "bad tactics" or "bad combination" (Chess Terminology). Strategic Mistake: A bad move related to an erroneous plan and revealing, on the long-term, a wrong interpretation of the position. An interesting example of such a mistake is given by the game:
Campbell, Brian G - Kennefic, Maurice [D00-m21*] Haifa (2), 1976 -
Chess-Theory Analyzed Game No 042 with the move: 9.0-0-0? ... and now the White King is precisely in the medium of the battle field!
(Chess Terminology). A Pawn Mobile Front is a Pawn Front having, as a whole, a rather great degree of freedom. A typical example is given in the game:
eee Chigorin, Mikhail - Shiffers, Emanuel [A43-c*] St Petersburg m2
St Petersburg (3), 1878 - Chess-Theory Analyzed Game No 048
Effectively the following position of the Deep Middle Game (DEMG:) occurs after: 1.e4 c5 2.d4 e6 3.d5 exd5 4.exd5 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nf3 Be7 7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.Qe2 0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.Bxd7 Nbxd7 11.Re1 Qc7 12.Bg5 Rae8 13.Nh4 Bd8 14.Qd2 Ne5 15.Nf5 Qd7 16.Ng3 b5!=
and then you may notice the Black mobile front on the queenside (Current & New Chess Theory - NCT XI - "Chess pawn structure II"). White (Black) Mobile Front: Expresses that White (Black) owns a pawn mobile front (NCT XI - "Chess pawn structure II"). Central Mobile Front: A pawn mobile front situated in the center, that is to say: located on files: c,d,e,f (see: Large Center) (NCT XI - "Chess pawn structure II"). A White (Black) Central Mobile Front is evidently a central mobile front owned by White (Black) (NCT XI - "Chess pawn structure II"). Queenside Mobile Front: A pawn mobile front situated in the queenside, that is to say: located on files: a,b,c,d (see: Large Queenside) (NCT XI - "Chess pawn structure II"). A White (Black) Queenside Mobile Front is evidently a queenside mobile front owned by White (Black) (NCT XI - "Chess pawn structure II"). Kingside Mobile Front: A pawn mobile front situated on the kingside, that is to say: located on files: e,f,g,h (see: Large Kingside) (NCT XI - "Chess pawn structure II"). A White (Black) Kingside Mobile Front is evidently a kingside mobile front owned by White (Black) (NCT XI - "Chess pawn structure II"). The Mobility is a fundamental feature in a given position. The notion of Mobility concerns the general arrangement of figures (chessmen) and pawns; but pawns have a greater aptitude to block the mobility, because precisely of their weak mobility. This concept is connected with many others and deserve a thorough study. It is effectively one of our main objectives through the NCT (Current & New Chess Theory - NCT XI - "Chess pawn structure II"). Significant Mobility: One camp benefits (or both camps benefit) from a great mobility (Current & New Chess Theory - NCT XI - "Chess pawn structure II"). White (Black) Significant Mobility: White (Black) benefits from a great mobility (Current & New Chess Theory - NCT XI - "Chess pawn structure II"). Increasing Mobility: For one camp (or both camps) one may notice a growing mobility of the position (Current & New Chess Theory - NCT XI - "Chess pawn structure II"). White (Black) Increasing Mobility: White (Black) benefits from an increasing mobility (Current & New Chess Theory - NCT XI - "Chess pawn structure II"). Impeded Mobility: One camp has (or both camps have) a mobility impeded for many reasons, but mainly because of: White (Black) Significant Mobility: White (Black) has a mobility impeded. The reasons are varied and it is not difficult to find typically examples (Current & New Chess Theory - NCT XI - "Chess pawn structure II"). Morphy : La partie d'échecs: «Bibliothèque Nationale de France»
«Morphy : La partie d'échecs «Un guerrier au front soucieux, fatigué d'errer de ripailles en défaites et de longues marches en victoires illusoires, s'en fut un jour rendre visite, au fond d'une forêt bruissante d'oiseaux, à un ermite fort réputé pour sa bonté simple et sa sagesse imperturbable. Dans la hutte de branches où il fut reçu, ce guerrier conta au saint homme ses rudes aventures, et lui confia qu'il était las des méchancetés terrestres. Puis : " Je ne veux plus que vous pour maître, lui dit-il. Enseignez-moi ce savoir qui illumine votre visage et qui rend belle la vie ". L'ermite lui conseilla de méditer, de creuser l'écorce des apparences, de s'efforcer de découvrir, dans la mauvaise gangue du monde, le fruit savoureux de la paix. Il lui apprit comment valoriser son souffle et conduire ses pensées. Trois jours entiers, ils parlèrent ensemble. Après ce temps, le guerrier promit à son maître d'observer ses commandements et s'en retourna chez lui...» «... Alors l'ermite renversa l'échiquier dans l'herbe, d'un geste négligent." Il faut vaincre d'abord la peur. Ensuite peut venir l'amour, dit-il. As-tu compris ? " Le guerrier, enfin délivré, éclata de rire. Il savait maintenant comment goûter pleinement la vie. (Conte de Thaïlande, Henri Gougaud, L'arbre aux trésors, Ed. du Seuil)» (Chess and Literature). An Active Move is a move playing a role eventually in the development but mainly in the battle for the initiative (see: Initiative Move) (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). An Aggressive Move is an active one, with sometimes 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! (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). A Book Move is, in a given position, a move found in a book, an encyclopedia or all other reference (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). 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:
Stauton, Howard - De Saint Amant, Pierre Charles [A43-m] Paris (4),
1843 - Chess-Theory Analyzed Game No 051
where Stauton 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 Stauton's chessmen (blue balls), which develops as much this break move. (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). In a given game a player have to play and is confronted to the difficult problem of the choice. After having study carefully the position he selected a few number of moves; this ones are names Candidate Moves. Usually you may select 6 moves; it is a reasonnable average choice. The second stage consists in separately examining each selected move, to measure precisely their advantages and inconveniences. Finally the third stage is the final choice of the appropriate answer. This one was usualy one of the 6 candidate moves, but exceptionally it happens that it is not the case (Chess Methodology - Soviet School learning - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). In particular in a closed game it is sometimes useful to play a Consolidation Move in view to reinforce his position (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). 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 excellent 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 (Current & New Chess Theory - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). Decisive Move: Move having a decisive influence on the futur unfolding of the game, like on its conclusion (Current & New Chess Theory - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). Defensive Move: A move intervening in a defensive action (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). 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
(Classical & Modern Chess Theory - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). A Forced Move is a move that, in a given position, the site having to play is more or less obliged to choice (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). Forcing Move: has the same significance as Constraining Move (COTM:) (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). 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 the objectives that one 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. (Current Chess Theory & New Chess Theory - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). 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:) (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). By Mechanical Move we mean an apparently natural move, played without too much reflexion and not fulfilling necessarily the requirements of the position (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). 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 (Modern Chess Theory - see: www.JeremySilman.com - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). Obstructive Move: A move, generally of a pawn, having the objective to block off a line (file, rank or diagonal) usuful for the opponent (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). Offensive Defensive Move: Such a move has a double action. It intervenes in defense but equally in attack; very often this last consequence results rightly from the displacement of a piece in defense (defensive action) this one discovering a hidden piece (see: 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! (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). Pin Move: A move of a Queen, a Rook or a Bishop attacking directly an enemy piece (pinned piece) and preventing this one to move because an enemy chessman of greater value is on the same trajectory (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). Absolute Pin Move: A pin move such that the pinned piece protect the King. Then all move around of the pinned piece exposes directly the King to the attack and consequently is an illegal move (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). Relative Pin Move: A pin move such that the pinned piece protect a Queen or a Rook or anyway a chessman other that the King. In this case there is a relative freedom to drive away the pinned piece. Such is moreover the origin of superb sacrifices (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). 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 =/+ (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). Inadequate Move: Is a move not fulfilling the requirements of the position (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). Premature Move: Move not sufficiently prepared or/and not coming at the right time (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). A Priming Move is a move who finds its principal justification in the preparation of an action to come (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). 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). 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 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
(Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). 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 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 (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). A Waiting Move is an intermediate move forcing the opponent to play, when this one has any good move at his disposal (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). Waiving Move: In a closed position, a displacement of 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 Stauton was the first player to try out this type of move. (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). Move Sequence: All move series which it is possible to regard as the same action (Chess Terminology - NCT VI - "Chess move classification"). Muse of Chess: Another term for Caissa (Chess Mythology). Musée national du Moyen Âge - Thermes et hôtel de Cluny 6, place Paul Painlevé 75005 Paris (France) Renseignements au 33 (0)1 53 73 78 00 (standard et serveur vocal) et au 33 (0)1 53 73 78 16 (accueil) Courriel: contact.musee-moyenage@culture.gouv.fr
«Chess Players - Villefranche-on-Saone (France) - the chess game, like metaphor of the ritual in love, impregnates the culture of the end of the Middle Ages, in literature as in illustrated arts. One of most tempting testimonys of this passion is offered to us by this stained glass window of the XVth century.» «Belonging to the oldest preserved civil stained glass windows, it restores us the art of living of a cultivated elite. The two players wear elegant clothing and extravagant hats, as it was the fashion in the XVth century. The lady is dressed of a long gown bordered of fur. It has the top of the face shaved, according to the use of the elegant women at the beginning of XVth century, and carries a hairstyle to horns said "out of split bread". his partner is capped with a splendid hood which forms like a turban on his head.» «The greyness and yellow silver- two techniques of predilection of the painting annealed glass - are employed on very pure glass, of variable thickness, sometimes very mean. Its remarkable quality of execution makes of it one of best testimonys of Art in Lyon about the middle of the XVth century.» (Échecs et Art - Chess and Art). Mute Chain Lever: A chain lever in which the bases of the opposing pawn chains are not attacked (this situation doesn't produce candidate pawns (Modern Chess Theory - Hans Kmoch's Terminology). Mutual Protection: Two or more pieces protecting each other (Chess Theory). My System: Aaron Nimzovich's main work, first published in English in 1929. In this famous book Nimzovitch decribes his theory of Chess (Chess History - Modern Chess Theory).
The
Chess-Theory Glossary is presented on 25 pages.
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