Know chess Jargons

Chess Engine is a computer program that can play chess way better than humans. Currently, many chess engines are available, of which Stockfish is considered the best. Although there could be an argument for Alpha zero, usually people do not analyze the game using Alpha zero as it is not available to everyone. 

The process of rethinking the moves and positions of the game is called analysis. Usually, players replay their games after it is finished to find out the mistakes and in this way, they improve their game and playing style.

Novelty is the move that has never been played in the given position. Consider in this way, there have been many games played till now but each game starts with moves that have been played thousands of times. as the game proceeds it gradually becomes unique. The move that makes the game completely unique, which means the position on the board is never played earlier, then the last played move is known as Novelty.

A position in chess means, the placement of pieces on the board.

When a player plays a move that attacks a high-value piece of the opponent then usually the opponent tries to save that piece. Here, the opponent had to waste a move in saving a piece where as the player played a move that he wanted. This is called a tempo gain.

In simple words, Suppose each player are given a limited number of move to play in order to win the game and if you force the opponent to play a move that was not part of his/her plan then the opponent has wasted a move and you have gained an advantage. This is called winning tempo.

When a number of games have been played between two players and the score is tied then in order to decide the winner a tie-breaker is played. This tie-breaker is known as Armageddon.

In Armageddon, the White player gets more time than the black player but the white player will have to win the game in order to be the winner, whereas the black player can win as well as draw the game to be the winner.

But who decides which player gets to play white and which to play black?

This is either pre-decided or a bid takes place where the player who bid for the lowest time, gets to play with black.

Often a time, in order to confuse an opponent, a chess player gives away a high-value piece to either win the game on spot or to get a winning advantage. It is called Sacrificing a piece in chess.

Exchange sacrifice in still a sacrifice but the player sacrifices a high-value piece for a low-value piece and a better position or advantage in the game.

Exchange in chess is exchanging pieces by capturing the opponent's piece in such a way that the opponent captures your piece as well.

A chess game is theoretically divided into three parts:

• Opening → In this phase players try to gain control in the center squares of the board by putting their pieces in reasonable squares. Before the game starts, it is said that the white player has a slight advantage as he gets to play first. So the Goal of the opening phase for white is to maintain or gain that advantage, whereas for black the goal is to equalize the position or nullify the white's advantage
• Middlegame → Once the Opening phase is completed, the middle game starts, Here both players try to create a plan or strategy to counter the moves of the opponent and win the game
• Endgame → This is the last phase of the game. Usually, in the endgame, only a few pieces are left on the board. This is the most critical part f the game, as even a slight mistake in this phase can cost you the game.

Usually when Queens are exchanged, the game is considered to be in the endgame phase

Chess players create a formation using pieces in such a way that the opponent can't put his/her pieces into their territories. Such formation of pieces is called a fortress.

Rank in chess

The horizontal rows in the chess board are called Rank. A rank is identified by the corresponding number. In the below image, 2nd 5th and 7th Rank is shown

Fyle in Chess

The vertical columns in the chessboard are called fyle. A fyle is identified by the corresponding alphabet. In the below image,  a fyle, d fyle and f fyle is shown

In earlier times, players in different geographical locations used to play chess by sending moves via letters. Those games are called Correspondence chess.

Classical, Rapid, Blitz, and Bullet are different categories of chess games based on time. 

Classical Chess Time format: In this format, each player gets up to 90 or 120 minutes to play the first 40 moves and then after each player gets 30 minutes with a 10-second increment on each move

Rapid Chess Time format: In this format, each player gets 10 or more minutes with or without increments

Blitz Chess  Time format: In this format, each player has 5 or fewer minutes with or without increments

Bullet Chess Time format: In this format, each player has 1 or fewer minutes with or without increments. This is also called speed chess.

Elo is a rating system in chess. This shows the relative skill level of any player. The better the player, the higher will be his/her Elo rating.

It is calculated using a very complex mathematic method. You can take a look at it here.

When two player plays against each other, the winner gains the Elo rating while the loser loses the Elo rating.

Usually, A GM or Grandmaster is one who has more than 2500 El rating with at least 3 GM norms. Super GM or Super Grandmaster is the Grandmaster who has more than 2700 Elo rating

FIDE(Fédération Internationale des Échecs) is an International governing body of Chess. 

Each professional chess player has to be registered with a Federation. If the residing country of any chess player doesn't has a local authority or federation for chess then they can register there self with FIDE.

When a piece attacks two different pieces at the same time it is called a fork in chess. When A piece forks more than 2 pieces it is called a family fork

The skewer or x-ray is one of the basic tactics in chess where a piece attacks a high-value piece that is in line with another piece. Since a high-value piece is attacked, it needs to be saved, many times moving this high-value piece loses the other piece which is placed in line with this high-value piece

When a low-value piece that is in line with high value is attacked, it is called the low-value piece is pinned. Check below image

There are two kinds of pins in the chess

• Relative Pin: When the piece is pinned to any piece there than the king. This means the opponent can play the pinned piece 
• Absolute pin: When the piece is pinned to the king, that means the opponent can't play the pinned piece. In the above image, knight is in the absolute pin as it is pinned to the king. Moving knight will be an illegal move.