Author: meridirhproductions

In this article, we will focus on the basic terminology of chess.
The royal game is so rich and multifaceted that it is important to structure and organize the information one acquires. This introductory article is intended to provide a foundational framework that helps chess players orient themselves within the various lessons.

An Overview of the Key Concepts:

1. Opening
1.1 Opening Theory
1.2 Opening Strategy
1.3 Opening Traps
1.4 Opening Repertoire

2. Tactics & Calculation
2.1 Tactical Motifs
2.2 Mating Patterns
2.3 Variation Calculation

3. Middlegame
3.1 Strategic Play
3.2 Positional Play

4. Endgame
4.1 Theoretical Endgames
4.2 Practical Endgames
4.3 Endgame Strategy

In chess, the game is fundamentally divided into three phases:

1. The Opening
2. The Middlegame
3. The Endgame

While the opening phase is usually considered in isolation (even though I will introduce a more detailed subdivision here as well), the middlegame can generally be grouped into various categories.

Disclaimer: All three of the elements mentioned can be found in every phase of a game. I am assigning them primarily to the middlegame merely for the sake of emphasis.

The middlegame is further divided into the subcategories of strategic play and positional play.

The endgame, on the other hand, can be subdivided into theoretical endgames, practical endgames, and endgame strategy.

Let’s briefly touch upon each of these terms, to see what to expect if you encounter one of those during my upcoming articles.

1. Opening Phase
This is the phase in which the pieces and pawns are moved from their starting positions onto the board. We…

see the Golden Principles of the Opening).

Since chess has defined a wide variety of openings with their individual goals, this phase can be further subdivided into opening theory and opening strategy. In addition, I will address the topics of opening traps and opening repertoires as separate subcategories.

1.1 Opening Theory
Over the long history of chess, the game has been subjected to countless analyses. Players—whether with or without the assistance of chess computers (engines)—have developed numerous ways to play a game. In this process, ideas for handling a position are constantly tested and are sometimes deemed effective and sometimes evaluated as inferior.

This accumulated knowledge about the optimal way to play a position during the opening phase is known as opening theory. Today, opening theory can extend deep into the middlegame and, in some cases, even into the endgame.

1.2 Opening Strategy:
This refers to the strategic objective that a chess opening fundamentally aims to achieve. The pawn structure and the placement of the pieces are usually directed toward very specific strategic ideas. As a result, each opening can be described by a basic opening strategy.

1.3 Opening Traps:
Opening traps are usually small pitfalls that occur within the first few moves of an opening. They are often moves that appear natural, but at some point allow a tactical twist that favors one side.

1.4 Opening Repertoire:
An opening repertoire is something like the sanctuary of every chess player. Over the course of a career, a chess player acquires—or gradually builds—an opening repertoire.

It usually consists of a preferred first move with White (most commonly 1.e4, 1.d4, 1.c4, or 1.Nf3) and, correspondingly, a specific opening chosen with Black in response to White’s 1.e4, 1.d4, 1.c4, or 1.Nf3.

This selection of openings, to which a player typically remains loyal for a long time and studies in depth in order to gain experience and improve their play in the resulting positions, is known as an opening repertoire.

2. Tactics & Calculation:
This area generally covers everything related to calculating variations. It includes tactical motifs, mating patterns, and the technique of variation calculation as a structured thinking process.

2.1 Tactical Motifs:
This includes all tactical motifs and elements, such as knight forks, pins, skewers, double attacks, and eliminating defenders.

2.2 Mating Patterns:
This refers to the collection of all known mating patterns that have specific names (e.g., back-rank mate, Arabian mate, Anastasia’s mate, etc.).

2.3 Variation Calculation:
This refers to the technique of calculating variations, which can be considered part of the thinking process in chess.

3. Middlegame:
Once the pieces have been developed and the pawns have occupied the center, the opening phase comes to an end and the middlegame begins. In this phase, both sides must formulate plans to improve their own positions and, ideally, gain advantages somewhere on the board.

To achieve this, players rely on strategic play and positional play.

3.1 Strategic Play:
Strategic play refers to long-term planning and the use of various strategic features (see the article: The Strategic Features). This includes the technique of evaluating positions and formulating plans, as well as all strategic factors involved.

3.2 Positional Play:
This includes all techniques that a player uses to manipulate and exploit strategic features (e.g., exchanges, pawn breaks, etc.).

4. Endgame:
The endgame is the phase in which several pieces have already been removed from the board. Some sources also classify as the endgame those phases in which, in addition to other pieces, the queens are exchanged, since the queen is the strongest of all major pieces.

4.1 Endgame Theory:
Endgame theory encompasses all analyzed positions that are considered important for handling specific piece configurations.

4.2 Practical Endgames:
Practical endgames refer to those endgames that occur in actual play but do not fall within the realm of theoretical endgames.

4.3 Endgame Strategy:
Endgame strategy refers to planning in the endgame, as well as applying various criteria that are particularly important in this phase of the game (cf. the middlegame).