Updated Articles and Resources

By Edward Scimia, About.com Guide

United States Chess League - USCL Created: Monday, April 30, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
A short summary of the United States Chess League, as well as the league's history.
Five Key Ideas for New Chess Players to Work On Created: Monday, April 30, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
A few tips that new players can use to improve their chess results in a hurry.
Choosing an Opening Repertoire for Beginners - Chess Openings for Beginners Created: Monday, April 30, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
Tips for how to choose an opening repertoire for the novice chess player.
Chess: The Musical Created: Monday, April 30, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
A discussion of the musical Chess, a musical that has remained popular for nearly 30 years.
Reader Submissions: Show Off Your Chess Sets! Created: Sunday, October 31, 2010 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
Have a cool or unique chess set? Share a picture and tell us all about your favorite chess set!
Show Off Your Chess Set - Cool Chess Sets - Unique Chess Sets Created: Sunday, October 31, 2010 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
Have a cool or unique chess set? Share a picture and tell us all about your favorite chess set!
Center Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
The squares on a chess board closest to the middle, especially the 4 innermost squares. In algebraic notation, these squares are e4, d4, e5 and d5.
Castle Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
Castling is a defensive move in which the king moves towards the corner of the board, and a rook moves toward the middle. It is the only move in chess that allows two pieces to move at the same tim..
Candidate Master Created: Friday, August 29, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
A title awarded by FIDE, ranking below FIDE Master.
Brilliancy Created: Friday, August 29, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
An exceptional game.
Blunder Created: Friday, August 29, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
A terrible chess move.
Blitz Created: Friday, August 29, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
A type of chess played with a very short time control.
Algebraic Notation Created: Friday, August 29, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
The most widely-used form of chess notation. In algebraic notation, squares are named by combining the letter of their file with the number of their rank. For instance, the square the white king be..
Initiative Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
The player who is pushing the action of the game by making threats is said to have the initiative. This is usually an advantage, as the other player must react to these threats rather than start pl..
Grandmaster Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
The highest title awarded by FIDE. The title is sometimes referred to as International Grandmaster, and is often abbreviated as GM. Grandmasters typically have ratings over 2500, and must achieve s..
Gambit Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
An opening in which one player willingly gives up a pawn (or occasionally more) in exchange for better development, the initiative, or other compensation.
Fork Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
A tactic in which one piece attacks two or more opposing pieces simultaneously. Forks are most commonly made by knights, due to their ability to leap over other pieces.
File Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
A horizontal column of squares on the chessboard. In algebraic notation, the files are lettered a through h, with the queen’s rook starting on the “a” file.
FIDE Master Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
A title awarded by FIDE which is above Candidate Master, but below International Master. It is often abbreviated as FM. The usual way of earning the FIDE Master title is by obtaining a rating over ..
FIDE Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
The Fédération Internationale des Échecs, or World Chess Federation. FIDE acts as the governing body for international chess, and awards official ratings and titles to players.
Fianchetto Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
Italian for “on the flank,” a fianchetto is the placement of a bishop on b2 or g2 for white, or alternately, b7 or g7 for black.
Endgame Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
The final phase of a chess game, when few pieces are left on the board. The endgame often begins after the queens come off the board.
En Prise Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
French for “in take,” a piece is considered en prise if it is unprotected and can be captured.
En Passant Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
French for “in passing,” en passant is a special move that allows a pawn to capture an enemy pawn which has moved two squares and landed on an adjacent square. The pawn is captured as t..
Draw Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
A game that ends without a winner. This can happen in several ways. The players may agree to a draw, there may not be enough material left on the board for the game to end with a checkmate, or ther..
Development Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
The process of moving the pieces from their original squares to more active squares. Typically, the player who has better developed pieces will have an advantage.
Descriptive Notation Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
A style of chess notation in which each square is given a descriptive name, based on the piece that began play on that file and the square’s rank.
Counterplay Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
The offensive prospects of a player who is in a defensive or losing position.
Combination Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
A series of tactical moves that results in the win of material or checkmate. Many combinations involve one or more sacrifices.
Chess Clock Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
Chess games are often timed, especially in tournament play. This is done through the use of a device which contains two attached clocks, known as a chess clock. By pressing a button on their side o..
Checkmate Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
A king which is under attack and has no way of avoiding capture is said to be in checkmate. This ends the game as a victory for the player who has trapped the enemy king.
Check in Chess - What Is Check in Chess Created: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
Learn the chess concept of check, what it means for your king, and how it differs from checkmate.

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