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A

Abandon: To give up all concern in a game or formally stating a voluntary decision to give up a game because of discouragement, weariness, distaste etc.

Accelerated Pairing Systems: Swiss System Variant used to reduce the number of tournament leaders in as few rounds as is practical.   The Swiss System lists the competitors based on strength, then cuts the list in the middle and pairs the highest player in each group against each other and so forth.   In the ‘Accelerated System’, the field is divided into 4 groups with the top player of group-01 paired against the top player of group-02 and the top player of group-03 against the top player of group-4 and so forth.

Adjournment: An unfinished game may be adjourned and continued at a later time/date.  The player to make the next move on the board is required to write the next move on a piece of paper which is given to the referee.  This is called a ‘ sealed move’. When the game recommences this move must be the next move played on the chessboard.  The adjournment rule was first introduced in 1878 in Paris .

Adjudication: In amateur events, games not finished within a specified time period, sometimes are adjudicated by a strong player who determines the outcome of the game. This practice has fallen out of fashion and has been replaced by "sudden death".


Advanced Pawn: This term describes a Pawn which has passed the central line of the chessboard which is between the fourth and fifth ranks.

Advantage: A superiority of position, usually based on force, time, space or Pawn structure. A player whose position is considered objectively better is said to have the advantage.

Algebraic notation: Same as Chess notation or simply notation. It is a combination of letters and numbers (a to h and 1 to 8) which denotes the 64 squares of the board.  Algebraic notation has become the standard.

A jeeb: A life-size figure which was operated by many Chess and Checker players including Constant Ferdinand Burille.  Built by Charles Hopper in 1865. It played 900+ games and lost only three times and never lost a checker game.

Analysis: The calculation and detailed study of a series of moves based on a particular position in a game.

Annotation: Written comments about a position or a game, it can be narrative, Chess notation or both.

Announced Mate: A former practice to loudly proclaim a Checkmate. It is no longer permitted by the rules of Chess..

Arbiter: Chess has Arbiters for the enforcement of the rules.

Attack: An aggressive action during a game or to threaten to capture a piece or Pawn. Minority Attack: an attack of minor pieces against a majority of minor pieces of the opponent with the objective of creating a weakness in his position.