Chess Glossary : Section D
Dark Squares
Refers to the color or shade of 32 of the 64 squares that make up the checkered-pattern of the chessboard.
Play Chess Online - Free Games
How it works:
- 1Play alone
- 2Play with AI
- 3Play in room
- 4Watch the rooms
- 5No Ads, Clean Play Room
Dark-Square Bishop
Refers to the Bishops that start each game on the dark-colored squares. Both sides have a Dark-Square Bishop and, like the light-square Bishops, they will remain on their starting color, until either the end of the game, or until they are captured (whichever is the sooner).
Dead Draw
Refers to a position that will most likely end in a Draw (Stalemate), but for one side making such a major blunder that would gift their opponent a clear chance for snatching victory.
Play Chess Online - Free Games
How it works:
- 1Play alone
- 2Play with AI
- 3Play in room
- 4Watch the rooms
- 5No Ads, Clean Play Room
Demonstration Board
A 2D chessboard, fixed in an upright position – usually on a stand or easel – that allows Chess tutors to demonstrate games/tactics/strategies/etc. The Pawns and Pieces are usually magnetic, or they slot conveniently into cut-holes in the board itself.
Decoy
1. A tatic with ‘added cunning’, used to tempt an opponent to move a certain piece to a specific square, so you can play something more devious.
2. One who distracts the boss, while the other pockets the pay slips.
Defence
1. A sequence of moves made to position your pieces in such a way that they obstruct a specific enemy attack. Historical Defences of significance include: The Sicilian Defence and The Nimzo Indian Defence
2. When it comes to the Chess Glossary Team, you simply cannot defend the indefensible.
Deflection
This is where one piece of the enemy is burdened by being the protector of another piece or area on the board that you would, in fact, like to attack. Before you can get there, you must ‘persuade’ that defending piece to kindly take a hike. In other words, it’s Deflected away from its defensive position, allowing you to begin your main assault.
Descriptive Notation
Once the most popular way of recording moves in a game of Chess, Descriptive Notation has been superseded by the more-efficient Algebraic Notation.
Desperado
1. A piece destined for definite capture following a banzai raid on the enemy – often, such a Desperado piece will be the Knight, which will hop over and capture a handful of the opposing personnel, before being captured himself.
2. A piece sacrificed to help secure a draw.
Development
1. When moving your pieces from their original, starting positions, at the beginning of a game, to what you see as their more-influential squares, you’re causing their Development.
2. We’re afraid it’s always “backwards”, for the Chess Glossary Team.
Discovered Attack
A tactic that requires two of your pieces to work together to form a surprise attack on your opponent … It could be that your Knight moves to threaten the enemy Queen, while your Rook that remains stationary is, at the same time, threatening an enemy Bishop.
Discovered Check
Working on the same principle as the Discovered Attack, only one of the attacking pieces happens to be Checking the enemy King.
Domination
When a piece is going to be captured even though there is plenty of space to move across the board, the situation is referred to as Domination.
Double Attack
When a piece attacks two of the opponent’s pieces, at the same time, it’s making a Double Attack. Making a Fork Attack is a classic example of a Double Attack.
Double Check
A Check delivered by two pieces at the same time and, often, the only escape is if the King can capture one of the threatening pieces in a move that ALSO gets/keeps him out of Check.
Doubled Pawns
When a Pawn is used to make a capture, it does so by moving diagonally, one square forward, left or right – depending on where the enemy piece is … This can result in your conquering Pawn finding itself “Doubled-up”, on the same File as one of its fellow Pawns. In most cases, this structure isn’t wanted; though, there are times when Doubled Pawns can be a strong, defensive arrangement.
Doubled Rooks
This sees two Rooks of the same side, sitting on the same File or Rank. A Battery Attack, involving two Rooks, is a Doubled Rook formation, but Doubled Rooks don’t form a Battery Attack if they’re spread apart, even though they’re on the same Rank or File.
Draw
1. Also known as “Stalemate”, it’s a game that ends in a tie, either because Kings cannot attack each other and they’re suddenly the only remaining pieces on the board; or, through certain rules, like the 50 Move Rule, and the Three Repetitions Rule. In a Tournament, both players score ½ a point each.
2. Someone irresponsibly gave the Chess Glossary Team a box of crayons and an Etch-A-Sketch and told them to draw something … What they drew was rude.
Drawing Line
A specific Opening sequence that is known to regularly end in a Draw.
Drawish
Used to describe a game or position that will most likely finish in a Draw.
Drawing Weapon
An Opening sequence that is known to result in a Drawn game, but that is deliberately used by a player who intends to get a Draw – the sequence itself is their Weapon, strategically employed for the purpose of gaining ½ a point, which is earned through a Draw. If you feel you’re less likely to win against your opponent, whom you perceive to be a stronger player, you might consider playing for a Draw, as your best bet for adding to your points tally.
Duffer
Refers to a player who isn’t very good. Also known by some as a “patzer”, “woodpusher”, or “fish”, which is a nicer term than the one used by the Chess Glossary Team. They’d call ’em “$#%T!”
Dynamism
When positional considerations are demoted in favor of more activity, the style of play is seen as being more “Dynamic”.