Chess Dictionary — P

Terms starting with P (18)

Passed Pawn Intermediate

A passed pawn is one whose advance to promotion cannot be blocked or captured by opposing pawns on the same file or either adjacent file ahead of it.

Patzer Beginner

A patzer is a mildly pejorative term for a weak or inexperienced chess player who repeatedly makes elementary mistakes and shows little grasp of basic strategy or tactics.

Patzer Gives A Check Intermediate

A patzer gives a check when a player delivers an unproductive check that hands the opponent a free tempo or improved position.

Patzer Sees A Check Intermediate

A patzer sees a check when a weak player plays a checking move at once, usually without considering whether it truly improves the position or simply shifts the opponent’s king to a better square.

Pawn Beginner

Pawns are the eight weakest units per side, advancing only forward one square at a time or two from the starting rank while capturing diagonally ahead, unable to retreat, and promoting if they reach the eighth rank.

Pawn Break Intermediate

A pawn break is a pawn advance that attacks an opposing pawn, usually to open lines for pieces or alter the pawn structure.

Pawn Chain Intermediate

A pawn chain is a diagonal line of same-color pawns on adjacent files, each protecting the one ahead while being protected by the one behind.

Pawn Storm Intermediate

A pawn storm is an aggressive advance of connected pawns on one flank, usually to open lines against the enemy king or seize space and initiative.

Pawn Structure Intermediate

Pawn structure is the fixed arrangement of pawns for both sides that creates lasting strengths, weaknesses, and strategic plans.

Perp Intermediate

Perp is shorthand for perpetual check, a repeating series of checks that forces a draw by repetition.

Perpetual Check Intermediate

A perpetual check is a drawing tactic in which one player forces an unending cycle of checks that the opponent cannot escape without allowing repetition.

Philidor Position Intermediate

The Philidor Position is a fundamental defensive resource in rook-and-pawn endgames in which the defending rook controls the third rank to cut off the attacking king while the defending king remains in front of the passed pawn to block its advance.

Pigs On The 7Th Intermediate

Two rooks doubled on the opponent’s seventh rank, known as pigs on the seventh, create a powerful attacking formation that typically sweeps up pawns and generates decisive threats against the enemy king.

Pin Beginner

A pin occurs when a long-range piece attacks an enemy unit that shields a more valuable piece or the king on the same line, leaving the attacked unit immobilised.

Poisoned Pawn Intermediate

A poisoned pawn appears free to capture yet hands the opponent lasting initiative, dangerous tactical threats, or a serious positional concession that outweighs its value.

Post-Mortem Intermediate

A post-mortem is the analysis and discussion of a completed chess game, usually by the players, to identify mistakes, better moves, and lessons learned.

Promotes Beginner

A pawn promotes when it reaches the opponent's back rank and is immediately replaced by a queen, rook, bishop or knight of the same color.

Prophylaxis Intermediate

Prophylaxis is the practice of making a quiet move that anticipates and neutralises an opponent’s intended plan or threat before it arises.