Editing Glossary of chess (section)

==P==
{{glossary}}

{{term|term= P|content= P {{anchor|P|p}} }}
{{defn|defn= Symbol used for the [[#pawn|pawn]] when recording chess positions in English; a lowercase '''p''' is typically used for a Black pawn. Also used for the pawn when recording chess moves in [[#descriptive notation|descriptive notation]], e.g. P-K4.}}

{{term|term= pairing|content= pairing {{anchor|Pairing|pairings}} }}
{{defn|defn= The assignment of opponents in a [[#tournament|tournament]]. The most common pairing methods used in chess tournaments are [[#round-robin tournament|round-robin]] and the [[#Swiss tournament|Swiss system]].<ref>Pandolfini 1996, p. 172</ref>}}

{{term|term= passar battaglia|content= ''passar battaglia'' {{anchor|Passar battaglia}} }}
{{defn|defn= [from Italian, "to dodge the fight"] The former rule that a pawn could evade capture by an opposing pawn by its initial two-square advance, in contrast to the ''[[#En passant|en passant]]'' rule. ''Passar battaglia'' remained the practice in several parts of Europe long after ''en passant'' was introduced, and it was not completely abandoned until 1880 when Italy adopted the ''en passant'' rule.<ref>Hooper & Whyld 1996, p. 291</ref>}}

{{Chess diagram small
|tright
|
|  |  |  |  |kd|  |  |
|  |pl|  |  |  |pd|  |
|  |  |  |  |  |nd|pd|
|pd|  |  |pd|  |  |  |
|pl|  |  |  |pl|  |  |
|  |  |bl|  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |kl|  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|White with a passed pawn on b7. Black has a passed pawn on g6.
}}
{{term|term= passed pawn|content= [[passed pawn]] {{anchor|Passed pawn|passed pawns}} }}
{{defn|defn= A [[#pawn|pawn]] that has no pawn of the opposite color on its [[#file|file]] or on an adjacent file to challenge or threaten its potential for [[#queening|queening]].<ref name="Staunton 2014, p. 61">Staunton 2014, p. 61</ref>}}

{{term|term= passer|content= passer {{anchor|Passer|passers}} }}
{{defn|defn= A ''[[#passed pawn|passed pawn]]''.<ref>Kmoch 2013, p. 18</ref>}}

{{term|term= passive|content= passive {{anchor|Passive}} }}
{{defn|defn= Describes a [[#piece|piece]] or pawn that is inactive and able to move to or control relatively few squares, or a position without possibilities for [[#attack|attack]] or [[#counterplay|counterplay]].<ref name="Silman 1999, p. 438">Silman 1999, p. 438</ref> Antonym: ''[[#active|active]]''.}}

{{term|term= passive sacrifice|content= passive sacrifice {{anchor|Passive sacrifice}} }}
{{defn|defn= The [[#sacrifice|sacrifice]] of a piece, by moving a different piece, leaving the sacrificed piece under attack.}}

{{term|term= pattern recognition |content= [[Pattern recognition (psychology)|pattern recognition]] {{anchor| Pattern recognition}} }}
{{defn|defn= A part of chess thinking that involves remembering and recognizing certain recurring positional aspects large and small, visual and dynamic. It is a kind of thinking that gives an advantage to a player with great experience. It is distinct from the intellectual activity of [[#calculation|calculation]]. It uses intuitive thinking that is familiar to humans, but is foreign to computers. It can be developed by studying [[chess puzzle]]s. It has been studied by [[Adriaan de Groot]], and other scientists, who have attempted to discover how chess players think.<ref>de Groot 2008, pp. 189–203</ref><ref>van de Oudeweetering 2014, p. 7</ref>}}

{{term|term= patzer|content= patzer {{anchor|Patzer|patzers}} }}
{{defn|defn= A weak chess player (from {{langx|de|patzen}}, "to bungle").<ref>Kaan 2016, p. 19</ref> See also ''[[#woodpusher|woodpusher]]''.}}

{{term|term= pawn|content= [[Pawn (chess)|pawn]] {{anchor|Pawn|pawns}} }}
{{defn|defn= A piece that can move one square directly forward, or on its first move, can move two squares directly forward.  It can also move one square diagonally forward when capturing. It may capture ''[[#en passant|en passant]]''. Upon reaching its eighth [[#rank|rank]], it is [[#promoted|promoted]] to a same-colored [[#queen|queen]], [[#rook|rook]], [[#bishop|bishop]], or [[#knight|knight]].}}

{{term|term= pawn and move|content= [[Chess handicap|pawn and move]] {{anchor|Pawn and move}} }}
{{defn|defn= A type of odds game, common in the 18th and 19th centuries, in which the superior player plays Black and begins the game with one of their pawns, usually the king bishop pawn, removed from the board; plus White gets an extra move at the start.<ref>Staunton 1875, p. 41</ref>}}

{{term|term= pawn break|content= pawn break {{anchor|Pawn break|pawn breaks}} }}
{{defn|defn= A pawn move that attacks an enemy pawn in order to open up [[#line|lines]] and/or challenge the opponent's [[#pawn structure|pawn structure]]. See also ''[[#break|break]]''.}}

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{{Chess diagram small
|tright
|
|rd|nd|bd|qd|  |rd|kd|
|pd|pd|pd|  |pd|pd|bd|pd
|  |  |  |pd|  |nd|pd|
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |pl|pl|pl|pl|  |
|  |  |nl|  |  |  |  |
|pl|pl|  |  |  |  |pl|pl
|rl|  |bl|ql|kl|bl|nl|rl
|White has a large pawn center in the [[King's Indian Defense, Four Pawns Attack]].
}}
{{col-break}}
{{Chess diagram small
|tright
|
|rd|  |bd|  |kd|bd|nd|rd
|pd|pd|  |  |  |pd|pd|pd
|  |qd|nd|  |pd|  |  | 
|  |  |  |pd|pl|  |  | 
|  |  |pd|pl|  |  |  | 
|pl|  |pl|  |  |nl|  | 
|  |pl|  |  |  |pl|pl|pl
|rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|bl|  |rl
|Pawn chains in the [[French Defence#Advance Variation|French Defense, Advance Variation]]
}}
{{col-end}}
{{term|term= pawn center|content= pawn center {{anchor|Pawn center|pawn centre|Pawn centre}} }}
{{defn|defn= Or '''pawn centre'''. A player's [[#pawn|pawns]] in the [[#center|center]] of the board. Pawns on the squares adjacent to the center may also be considered part of the pawn center. Having a strong pawn center was considered absolutely essential until the [[#hypermodernism|hypermodernist]] school introduced some new ideas.<ref>Keene 1989, p. 183</ref> Often shortened to '''center'''. See [[King's Indian Defense, Four Pawns Attack]] for an example of an opening leading to an extended pawn center.}}

{{term|term= pawn chain|content= pawn chain {{anchor|Pawn chain|pawn chains}} }}
{{defn|defn= Two or more pawns of the same color diagonally linked. A pawn chain's weakest point is the base because it is not protected by another pawn.<ref name="Silman 1999, p. 438">Silman 1999, p. 438</ref> See also ''[[#pawn structure|pawn structure]]''.}}

{{Chess diagram small
|tright
|Lichtenhein vs. Morphy, 1857
|rd|  |  |qd|kd|  |  |rd
|pd|  |pd|bd|  |pd|pd|pd
|  |  |pd|  |  |  |  |
|  |  |bd|pd|pl|  |  |
|  |  |  |  |bl|  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|pl|pl|pl|  |  |pl|pl|pl
|rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|  |  |rl
|Black has three pawn islands and White has two. The pawn on e5 is not isolated because it is adjacent to a file that has a white pawn.
}}
{{term|term= pawn island|content= pawn island {{anchor|Pawn island|pawn islands}} }}
{{defn|defn= A group of [[#pawn|pawns]] of one color on consecutive files with no other pawns of the same color on an adjacent file. A pawn island consisting of one pawn is an [[#isolated pawn|isolated pawn]].<ref name="Silman 1999, p. 439">Silman 1999, p. 439</ref>}}

{{term|term= pawn majority|content= pawn majority {{anchor|Pawn majority|pawn majorities}} }}
{{defn|defn= See ''[[#majority|majority]]''.}}

{{term|term= pawn minority|content= pawn minority {{anchor|Pawn minority|pawn minorities}} }}
{{defn|defn= See ''[[#minority|minority]]''.}}

{{term|term= pawn race|content= pawn race {{anchor|Pawn race}} }}
{{defn|defn= A situation where both opponents are [[#push|pushing]] a [[#passed pawn|passed pawn]] in effort to be first to [[#promotion|promote]].}}

{{term|term= pawn roller|content= pawn roller {{anchor|Pawn roller|pawn rollers}} }}
{{defn|defn= Two [[#connected pawns|connected]] [[#passed pawn|passed pawns]]. "Roller" refers to their ability to defend one another as they advance toward [[#promotion|promotion]].}}

{{term|term= pawn skeleton|content= pawn skeleton {{anchor|Pawn skeleton|pawn skeletons}} }}
{{defn|defn= See ''[[#pawn structure|pawn structure]]''.}}

{{term|term= pawn storm|content= [[pawn storm]] {{anchor|Pawn storm|pawn storms}} }}
{{defn|defn= An attacking technique where a group of pawns on one wing is advanced to break up the defense.<ref>Waitzkin & Waitzkin 1995, p. 83</ref>}}

{{term|term= pawn structure|content= [[pawn structure]] {{anchor|Pawn structure}} }}
{{defn|defn= The placement of the pawns during the course of a game. As pawns are the least mobile of the pieces and the only pieces unable to move backwards, the position of the pawns greatly influences the character of the game.<ref>Pandolfini 1992, p. 238</ref> Also called ''pawn skeleton''.}}

{{term|term= PCA|content= [[Professional Chess Association|PCA]] {{anchor|PCA}} }}
{{defn|defn= An abbreviation for the Professional Chess Association.}}

{{term|term= performance rating|content= [[Performance rating (chess)|performance rating]] {{anchor|Performance rating|performance ratings}} }}
{{defn|defn= A number reflecting the approximate [[#Elo rating system|rating]] level at which a player performed in a particular [[#tournament|tournament]] or [[#match|match]]. It is often calculated by adding together the player's performances in each individual game, using the opponent's rating for a draw, adding 400 points to the opponent's rating for a win, and subtracting 400 points from the opponent's rating for a loss, then dividing by the total number of games. For example, a player who beat a 2400-rated player, lost to a 2600, drew a 2500, and beat a 2300, would have a performance rating of 2550 (i.e. 2800 + 2200 + 2500 + 2700, divided by 4).<ref>United States Chess Federation 2003, p. 202</ref> Abbr. PR.}}

{{term|term= perpetual check|content= [[perpetual check]] {{anchor|Perpetual check|perpetual checks|perpetual}} }}
{{defn|defn= Often shortened to '''perpetual'''. When a player puts the opponent in check and the check could be repeated endlessly, the game will be declared a draw by [[#threefold repetition|repetition]]. This tactic can be resorted to as a form of insurance in a losing position.<ref>Seirawan & Silman 1994, p. 245</ref>}}

{{term|term= PGN|content= PGN {{anchor|PGN}} }}
{{defn|defn= An abbreviation for [[#Portable Game Notation|Portable Game Notation]].<ref name="Hurst 2007, p. 365">Hurst 2007, p. 365</ref>}}

{{term|term= Philidor position|content= [[Philidor position]] {{anchor|Philidor position}} }}
{{defn|defn= Usually refers to an important chess [[#endgame|endgame]] that illustrates a drawing technique when the defender has a king and rook versus a king, rook, and pawn. It is also known as the third rank defense, because of the importance of the rook on the third rank cutting off the opposing king. It was analyzed by Philidor in 1777.<ref>Fine 1976, p. 4</ref> See also [[Rook and pawn versus rook endgame]].}}

{{term|term= Philidor sacrifice|content= Philidor sacrifice {{anchor|Philidor sacrifices}} }}
{{defn|defn= The [[#sacrifice|sacrifice]] of a [[#minor piece|minor piece]] for one or two pawns for greater pawn mobility as compensation.<ref>Hooper & Whyld 1996, p. 305</ref>}}

{{term|term= piece|content= [[Chess piece|piece]] {{anchor|Piece|pieces}} }}
{{defn|no=1|defn= One of the chessmen or figures used to play the game – that is, a king, queen, rook, bishop, knight or pawn. Each piece type has its own rules of movement on the board and of capturing enemy pieces. This is the definition used in the context of [[rules of chess]] – for example, the [[#touched piece rule|touched piece rule]].}}
{{defn|no=2|defn= When annotating or discussing chess games, the term "piece" usually excludes [[#pawn|pawns]]. It may be used collectively for all "non-pawns" – for example, "White's pieces are well-posted." In some contexts, it may refer specifically to a [[#minor piece|minor piece]] – for example, "White is up two pieces for a rook."<ref>Hochberg 2005, p. 11</ref>}}

{{term|term= pin|content= [[Pin (chess)|pin]] {{anchor|Pin|pins}} }}
{{defn|defn= When a piece is attacked but cannot legally move, because doing so would expose the player's own king to [[#check|the attack]]; or when a piece is attacked and {{em|can}} legally move out of the line of attack, but such a move would expose a more valuable piece (or an unprotected piece) to [[#capture|capture]].<ref name="Hochberg 2005, p. 12">Hochberg 2005, p. 12</ref> See ''[[#absolute pin|absolute pin]]'' and ''[[#relative pin|relative pin]]'', respectively.}}

{{term|term= playable|content= playable {{anchor|Playable|playability}} }}
{{defn|defn= Said of an [[#opening|opening]], a position, or move that affords the person playing it a tenable position.<ref>Kaan 2016, p. 16</ref>}}

{{term|term= play by hand|content= play by hand {{anchor|Play by hand}} }}
{{defn|defn= To make a move intuitively and without analyzing the move.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/15/AR2007071500907.html Kavalek, Lubomir. "Chess".] ''The Washington Post''. 16 July 2007</ref>}}

{{term|term= ply|content= [[Ply (chess)|ply]] {{anchor|Ply|plies}} }}
{{defn|defn= Term mainly used in [[computer chess]] to denote one play of either White or Black. Thus equal to half a [[#move|move]].}}

{{Chess diagram small
|tright
|
|rd|nd|bd|  |kd|bd|  |rd
|  |pd|  |  |  |pd|pd|pd
|pd|  |  |pd|pd|nd|  | 
|  |  |  |  |  |  |bl| 
|  |  |  |nl|pl|pl|  | 
|  |  |nl|  |  |  |  | 
|pl|qd|pl|ql|  |  |pl|pl
|rl|  |  |  |kl|bl|  |rl
|Black has accepted the "poisoned" b2-pawn with 8...Qxb2 in the [[Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation]].
}}
{{term|term= poisoned pawn|content= poisoned pawn {{anchor|Poisoned pawn|poisoned pawns}} }}
{{defn|defn= An unprotected pawn that, if captured, causes [[#positional play|positional]] problems or [[#material|material]] loss.<ref name="Silman 1999, p. 439">Silman 1999, p. 439</ref>}}

{{term|term= Poisoned Pawn Variation|content= [[Poisoned Pawn Variation]] {{anchor|Poisoned Pawn Variation}} }}
{{defn|defn= Any of several opening [[#variation|variation]]s, the best-known of these being in the [[Najdorf Variation]] of the [[Sicilian Defense]], in which there is a [[#poisoned pawn|poisoned pawn]].<ref>Watson & Watson 1998, p. 18</ref>}}

{{term|term= Portable Game Notation|content= [[Portable Game Notation]] {{anchor|Portable Game Notation}} }}
{{defn|defn= This is a popular computer-processible [[ASCII]] format for recording chess games (both the moves and related data).<ref name="Hurst 2007, p. 365">Hurst 2007, p. 365</ref> There are import and export versions: the import version is lax, while the export version is not. Abbr. PGN.}}

{{term|term= position|content= position {{anchor|Position|positions}} }}
{{defn|defn= "The disposition of pieces and pawns, of one or both colours, at any stage of the game or as set in a {{chessprobgloss|composition}}."<ref>Hooper & Whyld 1996, p. 316</ref> If one side has an overall advantage in strength, that side is said to have "the better position". If neither side has an overall advantage, the position might be called ''level'' or ''[[#equal|equal]]'' or ''balanced''. The position of chessmen at the beginning of a game is called an ''array''.<ref>Hooper & Whyld 1996, p. 20</ref>}}

{{term|term= positional play|content= positional play {{anchor|Positional play}} }}
{{defn|defn= Play based on strategy, on gaining and exploiting small advantages, and on analyzing the larger position, rather than calculating the more immediate [[Chess tactic|tactics]].<ref name="Silman 1999, p. 439">Silman 1999, p. 439</ref> Cf. ''[[#antipositional|antipositional]]''.}}

{{term|term= positional player|content= positional player {{anchor|Positional player|positional players}} }}
{{defn|defn= A player who specializes in [[#positional play|positional play]], as distinguished from a [[#tactician|tactician]].{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}}}

{{term|term= positional sacrifice|content= positional sacrifice {{anchor|Positional sacrifice|positional sacrifices}} }}
{{defn|defn= A [[#sacrifice|sacrifice]] in which the lost material is not regained via a [[#combination|combination]], but instead gains positional [[#compensation|compensation]]. These typically require deep positional understanding {{dubious span|text=and are often overlooked by computers|date=May 2024}}. Also known as a ''true sacrifice'', as opposed to a ''pseudo sacrifice'' or ''[[#sham sacrifice|sham sacrifice]]''.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}}}

{{term|term= postal chess|content= postal chess {{anchor|Postal chess}} }}
{{defn|defn= See ''[[#correspondence chess|correspondence chess]]''.}}

{{term|term= post mortem|content= post mortem {{anchor|Post mortem|post mortems|post-mortem|Post-mortem|postmortem|Postmortem}} }}
{{defn|defn= [[#analysis|Analysis]] of a game after it has concluded, typically by one or both players and sometimes with spectators (kibitzers) contributing as well. A player who has just lost the game thanks to a dubious move has the chance to "win the post-mortem" by finding a better one.<ref name="Silman 1999, p. 439">Silman 1999, p. 439</ref>}}

{{term|term= PR|content= PR {{anchor|PR}} }}
{{defn|defn= An abbreviation for [[#performance rating|performance rating]].}}

{{term|term= premove|content= [[premove]] {{anchor|Premove|premoving|Premoving|premoves|Premoves}} }}
{{defn|defn= In [[online chess]], a move input that is made during the opponent's turn, to take effect only after the opponent has moved. ''Premoving'', the act of making premoves, is a popular way of saving time in blitz and bullet formats.<ref>{{cite web |title=What are premoves and how do they work? |url=https://support.chess.com/article/642-what-are-premoves-and-how-do-they-work |website=Chess.com |access-date=15 May 2022}}</ref>}}

{{term|term= preparation|content= preparation {{anchor|Preparation}} }}
{{defn|defn= See ''[[#opening preparation|opening preparation]]''.}}

{{term|term= prepared variation|content= prepared variation {{anchor|Prepared variation|prepared variations}} }}
{{defn|defn= A well-analyzed [[#theoretical novelty|novelty]] in the [[#opening|opening]] that is not published but first used against an opponent in competitive play.<ref>Pandolfini 1996, p. 188</ref>}}

{{term|term= Principle of two weaknesses |content= Principle of two weaknesses {{anchor|Principle of two weaknesses}} }}
{{defn|defn= A technique of increasing one's advantage by causing the opponent, who has one weakness, to have a second weakness. Even if both weaknesses are minor, the fact of having two, in practice, becomes a major weakness.<ref name="Dvoretsky 2006, p. 53">Dvoretsky 2006, p. 53</ref>}}

{{term|term= priyome|content= [[priyome]] {{anchor|Priyome}} }}
{{defn|defn= A Russian term for particular tactics that depend on pawn structure.<ref>Soltis 2013, p. 1</ref>}}

{{term|term= problem-like|content= problem-like {{anchor|Problem-like}} }}
{{defn|defn= An elegant and counterintuitive tactical [[#shot|shot]], of the type generally found in [[chess problem]]s rather than in actual play, can be termed problem-like.}}

{{term|term= promotion|content= [[Promotion (chess)|promotion]] {{anchor|Promotion|promotions|promote}} }}
{{defn|defn= Advancing a [[#pawn|pawn]] to the [[#eighth rank|eighth rank]], converting it to a queen, rook, bishop, or knight. Promotion to a piece other than a queen is called ''[[#underpromotion|underpromotion]]''.<ref name="Hochberg 2005, p. 12">Hochberg 2005, p. 12</ref>}}

{{term|term= prophylaxis|content= [[Prophylaxis (chess)|prophylaxis]] {{anchor|Prophylaxis|prophylactic|Prophylactic}} }}
{{defn|defn= A strategy that frustrates and protects against an opponent's plan or tactic for fear of the consequences.<ref name="Silman 1999, p. 439">Silman 1999, p. 439</ref> See also ''[[#blockade|blockade]]'', ''[[#overprotection|overprotection]]'', and ''[[#mysterious rook move|mysterious rook move]]''.}}

{{term|term= protected passed pawn|content= [[Passed pawn#Protected passed pawn|protected passed pawn]] {{anchor|Protected passed pawn|protected passed pawns}} }}
{{defn|defn= A [[#passed pawn|passed pawn]] that is supported by another pawn.<ref>Silman 1999, p. 440</ref>}}

{{term|term= protection|content= protection {{anchor|Protection}} }}
{{defn|defn= A piece is protected when another friendly piece controls its square. This somewhat protects the first piece from [[#capture|capture]], as there is the option to recapture. This is especially effective if the [[#attack|attacking]] piece is of greater value than the [[#threat|threatened]] piece. }}

{{term|term= pseudo sacrifice|content= pseudo sacrifice {{anchor|Pseudo sacrifice|pseudo sacrifices|pseudo-sacrifice}} }}
{{defn|defn= See ''[[#sham sacrifice|sham sacrifice]]''.}}

{{term|term= push|content= push {{anchor|Push|pushes|pushed|pushing}} }}
{{defn|no=1|defn= ''v''. To move a [[#pawn|pawn]] forward.}}
{{defn|no=2|defn= ''n''. A pawn move forward.}}

{{glossary end}}