A B C D E F G-H I-L M-N O P Q-R S T U-Z

Sacrifice: The voluntary offer of material for the purpose of gaining a more favorable advantage than the material investment. Unlike a combination, a sacrifice is not a cut and dried affair--there is usually an element of uncertainty associated with it. Though a combination always has one or more sacrifices, a sacrifice need not be associated with a combination.

Semi-Open Game: A position with some closed and some open qualities. Typically, 1.e4 e6, 1.e4 c6 and 1.e4 d6 lead to semi-open games. See Open Games and Closed Games.

Sharp: A bold, aggressive move or position. A sharp player is one who enjoys dynamic, explosive situations.

Shot: A strong move that the opponent didn’t expect.

Simplify: An exchange of pieces to reach a won ending, to neutralize an enemy attack or simply to clarify a situation.

Skittles: chess played in an offhand manner, often at a chess club or after a tournament game.

Sound: An analytically correct move or plan. A safe, solid position.

Space: The territory controlled by each player. Thus, whoever controls the most territory has a spatial advantage.

Speculative: An unclear or risky move or plan.

Strategy: The foundation of a player’s moves. The way to achieve a particular plan. See Plan.

Style: The preference for certain types of positions and moves. It is typical to have one player who enjoys open, tactical positions while his opponent may cherish semi-closed structures of a positional nature. Thus, the first part of the battle will be to determine who gets the type of position in which he excels.

Support Point: A square that acts as a home for a piece (usually a Knight). A square can only be considered a support point if it cannot be attacked by an enemy pawn or if the enemy pawn advance (attacking the support point) would severely weaken the enemy position.

Swindle: A trick from an inferior position.

Symmetry: A situation in which both armies are identically placed on their respective sides of the board. For example, 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.0-0 0-0 7.a3 a6 8.Rb1 Rb8 9.b4 cxb4 10.axb4 b5 11.cxb5 axb5 is a well-known symmetrical position that comes from the English Opening.

A B C D E F G-H I-L M-N O P Q-R S T U-Z