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Chess Terms
Caro Kann (KAH-ro KAHN) - opening named after Horatio Caro and Marcus Kann
En passant (ahn pah-SAHN) - special method of capturing
En prise (ahn preez) - piece hanging
F.I.D.E. (FEE-day) - International Chess Federation ("Fédération Internationale des Échecs")
Fianchetto (fee-an-KET-toe) - development of the bishop on b2, g2, b7, or g7
Giuoco Piano (JOKE-o Pee-AH-no) - Italian Opening
J'adoube (zha-DOOB) - 'I adjust'; call when merely adjusting, and not moving, a piece in chess, etc.
Schevenigen (sheh-VEN-i-gen) - pairing system and Sicilian Defense variation
Zugzwang (TSOOKS-vahng), position in which the move makes a worse result
Zwischenzug (TSVEYE-shun-tsook) - in-between move

Note: Several chess openings and variations are named after individuals. In those cases, the names will be listed below.


Chess Names
Adorjan (A-door-yan), Andras - Hungarian Grandmaster
Alekhine (al-YECK-een also al-YECK-in), Alexander Alexandrovich - former world champion
Barcza (BAR-tza), Gedeon - Hungarian Grandmaster
Bernstein (BERN-shtyne), Ossip - Russian Grandmaster
Bisguier (BIS-gire), Arthur - American Grandmaster
Bogojubow (bah-gah-LYU-bahf also bo-go-LYU-bov), Efim - German Grandmaster
Book (bek), Eero - Finnish Grandmaster
Botvinnik (bot-VIN-ik), Mikhail - former world champion
Caissa (KI-suh also ki-EE-su [long 'i']) - the muse and/or goddess of chess
Charousek (kha-ROO-sek), Rudolf - Hungarian master
Chiburdanidze (tchee-boor-dah-NID-zay), Maya - former women's world champion
Colle (KAW-lee), Edgard - Belgium champion
Csom (chom), Istvan - Hungarian Grandmaster
Euwe (UHR-vuh), Max - former world champion
Fedorowicz (fe-do-RO-vich), John - American Grandmaster
Gligoric (glee-GO-rich), Svetozar - Yugoslav Grandmaster
Grunfeld (GREWN-feld), Ernst - Austrian Grandmaster
Jaenisch (YAY-nish), Carl - Russian player and author
Janowsky (yan-OF-sky), Dawid - Polish master
Karpov (KAHR-pahf also KAHR-pov), Anatoly Yevgenyevich - former world champion
Kasparov (kahs-SPAHR-off), Garry Kimovich - PCA world champion
Kavalek (kuh-VAHL-ek), Lubomir - American grandmaster
Keres (KEHR-uhs), Paul - Soviet Grandmaster
Kortchnoi (KORCH-noy), Viktor - Swiss Grandmaster
Labourdonnais (lah-boor-do-NAY), Louis - 19th century player
Lange (LAHN-guh), Max - German player and author
Lein (lane), Anatoly - American Grandmaster
Ljubojevic (luh-BOY-yuh-vitch), Ljubomir - Yugoslav Grandmaster
Lucena (lou-CHAYN-uh), Luis - 15th century chess author
Maroczy (muh-ROT-see), Geza - Hungarian Grandmaster
Najdorf (NIGH-dorf), Miguel - Argentine Grandmaster
Petrov also Petroff (PEHT-rov also PEHT-roff), Alexander Dmitrievich - Russian master
Petrosian (Peht-rahs-YAHN also pye-tro-SSIAN), Tigran - former world champion
Pirc (peerts), Vasja - Yugoslav Grandmaster
Planinc (PLAN-ints), Albin - Yugoslav Grandmaster
Ponomariov (ponn-no-MAH-rre-ov), Ruslan (ROOS-lahn) - former F.I.D.E. champion
Reti (RAY-tee), Richard - Hungarian master
Robatsch (RO-bahtsch), Karl - Austrian Grandmaster
Ruy Lopez (ROO-ee LOW-pez also RUE-y LOW-peth) - 16th century Spanish priest and player
Saemisch (SAME-ish), Friedrich - German Grandmaster
Schliemann (SHLEE-mon), Adolf - German player and opening analyst
Shirov (SHEER-ahf), Alexey - Soviet grandmaster
Spassky (SPAHS-kee), Boris - former world chess champion
Stean (Steen), Michael - British Grandmaster
Stein (Shtayne), Leonid - Soviet Grandmaster
Steinitz (Styne-itz), William - former world champion
Suba (SHOO-ba), Mihai - Romanian Grandmaster
Sveshnikov (SVYESH-ni-kahff), Yevgeny - Soviet grandmaster
Tal (Tahl), Mikhail - former world champion
Tarrasch (tuh-ROSH), Siegbert - German master
Tchigorin (chih-GOE-reen), Mikhail - Russian master
Taimanov (tie-MAH-naff), Mark - Soviet grandmaster
Timman (TEE-mahn), Jan - Dutch Grandmaster
Winawer (WIN-ah-wer), Szymon - Polish master
Xie Jun (she-a-JUNE) - former world women's champion
Zukertort (SOOK-er-tort), Johann - German master

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