Game Theory and the Prisoner's Dilemma

Game Theory

• ·         Game theory is a classic mathematical model of analyzing real world problems. It was proposed by legendary mathematician Dr. John von Neumann.

• ·         It is one of the most important tools used by corporations, governments, militaries and computer game designers these days for strategic decision making in “real life” as well as real life-like situations.
• ·         Game theory is called into play whenever there are several players whose actions are interdependent.
• ·         It is the genesis of revolutionary changes in economic theory, the study of evolution and biology and has recently been applied in the automobile industry as well. The fields of sociology and psychology also have dedicated streams for creating datasets using game theory.
• ·         The key aspects of game theory revolve around identification of process participants, their various quantifiable options (choices), consideration of their preferences and subsequent reactions. If all these factors are carefully thought of, then the task of modeling the problem by game theory along with identifications of all possible situations becomes easier.
• ·         Think of coalition political parties tussling over power sharing in government.

·  Cooperative Game Theory is often used in politics and international relations because, invariably, power plays a big role in determining the strength of a nation. The neoliberation in international relations has greatly benefitted from game theory.

Brief History of Game Theory

• ·         The mathematical theory of games was first developed by John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern in the 1940s, but its applicability was limited to parlor games.
• ·         John Nash, the subject of the 2001 Oscar-winning movie A Beautiful Mind transformed game theory into a more general tool that enabled the analysis of win-win and lose-lose scenarios, as well as win-lose situations. Nash enabled game theory to address a central question: should we compete or cooperate?

• ·         Game Theory remains at the cutting edge of economic theory, with game theorists winning the Noble Prize in Economics in 1994, 1996, 2005, 2007 and 2012. For his path-breaking dissertation that revolutionized economics and many other disciplines, John Nash won the Nobel in 1994, along with game theorists John Harsanyi and ReinhardSelten.

• ·         William Vickrey won the Noble in 1996 for his pioneering, work in incentives, asymmetric information, and auction theory, all crucial to the advance of effective strategy in a world of influence – like chess, football, military strategy and business.

• ·         Thomas Schelling and Robert Aumann won the 2005 Nobel for the game-theoretic work in conflict and cooperation, including contributions on credible commitments and repeated games. In the committee’s worlds, such contributions have made Game Theory “the dominant approach” to the analysis of conflict and cooperation.

• ·         Leonid Hurwicz, Eric Maskin and Roger Myerson won the 2007 Nobel prize for their work in mechanism design theory, a branch of game theory that extends the application of game theory to how different types of rules, or institutions, align individual incentives with overall social goals. Their work on allocation mechanisms has had a significant impact on the design of auctions, social welfare systems and many organizations.

• ·         Most recently, in 2012, the Nobel was awarded to Lloyd Shapley and Alvin Roth for their work using Game Theory for economic engineering. Both addressed how to match different agents as well as possible. Shapely used cooperative game theory to study and compare different matching methods. Roth built on Shapley’s theoretical work by showing empirically the conditions for the functioning of important markets in practice, and he demonstrated that stability is the key to understanding the success of particular market institutions.

• ·         Another form of Game Theory is the Coalitional model, where the payoffs of a group or coalition take precedence over individual player’s payoff. Assume a recently concluded election in which no individual political party has majority to form a government.

• ·         This model can actually analyse and find the best group or coalition so that the payoffs are maximized. This is different from co-operative model in the sense that here even a small individual political party can enjoy more power and influence than a larger party. The only thing that is never disclosed is the process of negotiations by which the individual players formed a group of coalition.

• ·         Many Public Relation agencies, marketing firms and direct selling firms use elements of Game Theory to narrow down their target consumer base. It improves their focus area by giving a relatively clearer picture of the methods that can be employed to deal with customers.

• ·         An international program run by the US secret service agencies known as “Prism” uses a software model based on Game Theory to ascertain predictability of terrorist activities, identities and their possible locations. The program gathers data from numerous sources such as international Internet gateways, satellites, social networking sites, emails, chats and messengers. The data is then fed into the program to create a spectrum of information about possible terrorist attacks in USA and elsewhere.

• ·         The Game Theory is criticized for being a limiting factor in expanding one’s vision and intuitiveness. Not to forget the fact that Game Theory largely bases its results in an isolated environment where only the players participating in the game are considered to be solely responsible for the outcome of the game. Evolutionary scientists and many physicists also claim that the Game Theory works largely against the basic principles of human and universal evolution. According to them, the existence of over billion living species of differing characteristics is a classic example which defies rationality at its best.

• ·         Criticism notwithstanding, the game theory is regarded as extremely useful by researchers in political science.

• ·         Useful our useless, the debate continues as do developments in this field of applied mathematics. This is also a fairly large group of supporters who claim to have benefitted from Game Theory.

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Iran’s deal and Middle East politics -- An Article from Al Jazeera

After three rounds of talks in less than two months, Iran and six world powers have reached a preliminary agreement in Geneva on curbing Tehran’s nuclear programme in exchange for some sanctions relief. The breakthrough came amid a history of failed negotiations, and could be the first step towards a detente between Western powers and Iran after 35 years of hostility. Noticeably, the agreement came less than three months after Iran’s new President Hassan Rouhani committed to changing Iran’s relationship with the world.

The deal will have immediate regional and international ramifications, and once a long term deal is reached, possibly within a few months, rapprochement between Washington and Tehran is likely to pave the way towards major realignment in the greater Middle East region.

It’s also expected to open the way towards the recognition of Iran’s regional role starting with Syria, Iraq, the Gulf region, and eventually in Afghanistan.

As the US downsizes its overall military presence, it expects the Iranian leadership to be less of a nuisance and more cooperative towards crisis management in the greater Middle East.

And it seems, many in Tehran, and among its supporters, are pleased to see Iran replace Saudi Arabia or Israel as a reliable intermediary for the United States in the region.

Some argue that this is all wishful thinking and will prove short-lived considering the decades’ long antagonism and ideological differences. Others argue that in the long term, Iran (and Turkey) could prove more useful as US clients/partners than Israel and Saudi Arabia, considering their regional weight and historic importance.

The new deal will have serious ramifications on at least seven regional fronts:

Iran

The Islamic Republic is at the heart of any future regional shifts of power. US failures in Afghanistan, and more importantly in Iraq and Syria, have already strengthened Iran’s hand. And the newly gained confidence in Tehran will be further enhanced by the removal of economic sanctions, and buttressed by a bigger role in a weakened region.

Question: How will Iran’s rehabilitation and opening to the West affect the balance of power within the country and the future of the mullahs’ rule?

Syria  

Iran’s expected participation in the Geneva-2 negotiation over Syria’s future is its first reward for “good behaviour”. A staunch supporter of Bashar al-Assad, with its special forces fighting alongside his regime, Tehran is likely to ensure Assad’s survival, and along with Russia, assist in his rehabilitation as an acceptable regional leader. Tehran and Moscow are eager to end the war and shift the emphasis from ousting Assad to “fighting terrorism” in Syria.

·   Question: What does a greater Iranian role in Syria mean to the struggle of Syrians for freedom from dictatorship, and the outcome of the horrific civil war there?

Iraq 

The country is in a quagmire 10 years after the military invasion. It’s terribly polarised between Sunni and Shia forces and hundreds – even thousands – of people are killed every month by suicide bombings. Tehran exercises major influence in the country, over Nouri al-Maliki’s government, and among the Shia majority. And as of late, the authoritarian Maliki has emerged as an indispensable link between Tehran and Washington as he spearheads the fight against “extremist Sunni groups”.

·         Question: Considering its new vigour, will Iran’s support for Maliki lead him to an even greater monopoly of power and deeper divisions in the country?

  

Saudi Arabia

The wars in Iraq, Syria and the conflict in Lebanon – in addition to the upheaval of the predominantly Shia majority in Bahrain – have deepened the rift between Riyadh and Tehran. Judging from criticism made recently by Saudi intelligence chief Bandar bin Sultan, who is Washington’s ally in the Kingdom, the Saudi leadership is the most alarmed with the potential US-Iran detente and the rise of an unrestrained Iran on the Middle East stage. Further, Saudi-Iranian antagonism will lead to major sectarian escalation with incalculable price for the region.

·         Question: Will the hardening theological triangle - Saudi, Iran and Israel – take the region to new historic lows as the danger of sectarian conflict looms large in the region?

Afghanistan

As the US withdraws/redeploys outside the country in 2014 – after a 13 year war – leaving behind only residual forces through 2024, Washington can use all the help it can get to maintain control. With a certain influence over Afghanistan’s northern regions, Tehran could be of assistance if it chooses to help stabilise Afghanistan and deter the return of the Taliban.

·         Question: Having briefly helped US forces fight against the Taliban after 2001, will Tehran cooperate once again with the US?

Palestine/Lebanon

Palestine is a domestic redline for both Washington and Tehran and, therefore, expect little or no change to the occupation of Palestine where they’ve agreed to disagree. Tehran has already lost much influence among the Islamist Palestinian factions due to its support of the Assad regime; its only influence remains with Hezbollah.

·      Question: Will Iran’s Lebanese ally emerge stronger or weaker from the Syrian civil war, and will it become a Lebanese, and not an Israeli menace?

Israel

For the foreseeable future, Israel will continue to be the only nuclear power in the region. But Israel is no less annoyed by a resurgent Iran than it is by its nuclear development, especially the fact that Tehran has already acquired the nuclear know-how. Some suggest that this could lead to new unspoken Israeli alliance with the so-called moderate Sunni regimes, ie, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Egypt, against their common nemesis, Iran.

·         Question: Since Israel is particularly eager for such an arrangement, will such alliances finally see the light of day and what repercussion will that have on the region?

 India’s stand

India has welcomed the deal that Iran and six world powers clinched on Sunday curbing the Iranian nuclear programme in exchange for initial sanctions relief.

“As the agreement between Iran and the P5 plus 1 has been agreed to just a while ago we are in the process of obtaining details from our interlocutors, however, based on initial information available at this stage I can say that India welcomes the prospect of resolving questions related to Iran’s nuclear program,through dialogue and diplomacy,” India’s ministry of external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told

Susruta Samhita / Brihatsamhita / Alchemy in Tantric Period / Rasarnava ::: History of Indian Chemistry

Susruta Samhita

The portion in Susruta Samhita, which explains the preparation and use of alkalies, occupies a prominent place in Indian medical chemistry. It is said that alkalies were used to clean surgical instruments, which were used to cut the diseased parts of human body.  (the term СksaraТ itself means Сthat which removes away the affected parts of the bodyТ). Plates of iron, silver and gold were dipped in alkaline liquids before mixing with medicines. 

Susruta classifies alkalies into mrdu, tiksna and madhyama. He gives the preparation of each category.  Some of them are used for external application and some for internal administration.  They are used externally for skin diseases like kusta, tumors, piles etc. and internally for abdominal tumors, indigestion, urinary deposits, intestinal worms etc. devices to store them are also advised.  According to him, the sharp, saline taste of alkali when mixed with acid becomes very mild and gives up its sharpness. That is why acid neutralises alkaly.  

Different metals like bronze, iron, gold, silver, lead, copper, tin and different salts like rock salt, sea salt etc are enumerated in the Samhita.  Roasting of iron and other metals so as to render them fit for internal administration has been described.  The thin leaves of metals were plastered with a paste of the salts and afterwards subjected to roasting and were converted into their respective oxides, chlorides or oxichlorides. This can be considered a crude process for the preparation of the metallic salts.

Brhatsamhita (6^th Century AD)

Varahamihira, in his Brhatsamhita, refers to mordants like alum and sulphate or iron for the fixing of dyes on textile fabrics. It also alludes to cosmetics, scented hair dyes, perfumes etc.  It also contains information on various cement preparations, which may be classified under two heads: rock cement (vajralepa) and metal cement (vajra samghata).  These varieties of cement were applied to the walls and roofs of temples and other buildings.

Alchemy in Tantric Period (800 AD to 1600 AD)

The flourishing of chemistry in India, especially alchemy, has an interesting phase during the period of tantra.  The tantric cult in India was an admixture of alchemical processes on the one hand and grotesque rites on the other, centred on the worship of Siva and Parvati. We also have a class of tantras, which is an admixture of Buddhist and Saiva cults. Rasaratnakara ascribed to Nagarjuna belongs ato this category. According to tantric cult,  a man should preserve his body by means of mercury and medicaments.  According to tantrics, mercury was produced by the creative conjunction of Siva and Parvati and mica was produced from Parvati. The combination of mercury and mica was believed to be destructive of death and poverty.

Sarvadarsana Samgraha of Madhavacarya which elaborates the sixteen philosophical systems current in 14^th Cent AD, includes raseswara darsana or mercurial system as one among them.  According to this darsana, different preparations of mercury can enable a man to be free from old age and death, ie to obtain jivan mukti. Rasa is called parada because, it enables one to overcome the worldly affairs.

Rasarnava (asked in UPSC GS MAINS 2012) of unknown authorship, Rasaratnakara of Nagarjuna and Rasaratna samuchaya of Vagbhata are some of the important works of Indian alchemy written during the tantric period. Rasaratnakara and Rasarnava are tantras pure in which alchemy is incidentally dealt with.  Rasaratnasamuchaya is a systematic treatise on pharmacy and medicine.  Rasaratnakara of Nagarjuna contains descriptions of alchemical processes and preparations of mercurial compounds.  Extraction of zinc, mercury and copper are described by him.  He also elaborates on the preparation of crystalline red sulphide of mercury (swarnasindura or makaradhwaja) which is used as medicine for many ailments.

There are also works written in regional languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, Oriya and Gujarati on alchemy.  Here, Tamil works on siddha vaidya, about two hundred in number, deserves mention.  Works of Agastya, Nandiswara, Romarshi and Kailasamuni are important among them. A comparative study of the alchemical ideas of these Tamil and Sanskrit works has not yet been initiated.

According to tantric cult, siddhis are of two types - dehasiddhi (development of the body) and loha siddhi (development of metals). 

• The first pertains to making mercury capable of changing the molecules of lower metals into molecules of higher metals.  Mercury, which is capable of this, can certainly transform human molecules also. This is dehasiddhi.
•  Lohasiddhi is called alchemy or dhatuvada.  Dehasiddhi is obtained through lohasiddhi. Gradually, devices to refine metals led to the making of their powders, which were used as medicines.

As part of these alchemical processes, there are certain methods to purify mercury.  Indian alchemists had adopted 18 methods for this purpose. They also make classification of chemical substances into maharasa, uparasa, datu, ratna and visa. Certain refining processes of metals and mine products, mixtures of mercury also deserve special mention.

An important feature of Indian alchemy is the description of certain plants used in alchemical processes. About two hundred plants are referred to in this connection.  We get an elaborate description of the laboratories and the instruments from these alchemical works.

From Kunming Initiative to BCIM Corridor

The four member countries of the Kunming Initiative that was rechristened as the BCIM Forum (Bangladesh, India, China, and Myanmar) for regional cooperation is a Track II initiative that was given Track I coordination in 2011. 

During the recent visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to India, the initiative received a boost when a BCIM economic corridor was for the first time discussed at the level of heads of government. 

• The Kunming Initiative was formed keeping in mind the fact that a regional outlook on the concerns of development, security and prosperity was undoubtedly more beneficial than striking out one's own. 
• It had promising prospects given that the region represents 9% of the world's landmass and at present, a considerable amount of global GDP and a great majority of the world's population. 

An important aspect of the BCIM was the Kolkata-Dhaka-Mandalay-Kunming car rally earlier this year. This linking all four countries by road has further strengthen the notion that this corridor would subsequently open up the whole of the northeastern region of India to Southeast Asia and China and turn it into a significant channel of trade. 

 

The corridor would also dovetail the China-ASEAN Free trade Area, the India- ASEAN Free trade Area and the ASEAN Free trade Area turning it into the largest global free trade area. It is pertinent to note here that the northeastern states have, for a long time, been in unanimous support of making the objectives of the initiative functional. 

Since its inception in 1999 with the primarily aim to boost the economic prowess of the region and increase connectivity, the BCIM has been unable to be productive in any substantial manner. Despite the apparent willingness of the four countries, they have been limited by several factors in their endeavour to make the initiative prosper. One of the prime reasons for this is the fact that there is considerable political reluctance that hinders its success. The recent talks between Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh merely promised an 'exploration' into the areas of cooperation thus avoiding substantial assurance for the Kunming Initiative. The state of affairs between India and China is the most vital aspect impacting the proper functioning of the BCIM. 

From India's perspective, two reasons are pointed out in regard to the 'China factor'. 

One, the concerns that opening up of the northeast would flood the Indian markets with Chinese goods and two, that the same prospect would make the northeastern border security vulnerable. Many believe that it is part of Chinese policy to keep the border issues unresolved, wean away Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar and arm Pakistan, thereby limiting India's influence in the subcontinent. 

On the other hand, there is the much talked about the 'Asian Century' and the view that "India and China need not fear each other, as it is not 'India or China' but 'India and China' which would redefine the global economy." In either instance, clearing the geopolitical air may prove more beneficial on both domestic as well as international levels, than keeping them in the shadows. 


While India already has established connectivity with Myanmar (Moreh-Tamu-Kalewa road as well as trade points at Moreh-Tamu and Zowkhathar-Rhi besides the implementation of the Kaladan project) the same however, is yet to be arrived at with Bangladesh. 

With the political and constitutional changes that have taken place, Myanmar is keen to balance its position with other countries and reduce its reliance on Beijing. There are in fact several areas of convergence between India and Myanmar with regard to energy investments, geo-strategic and maritime security. Indian policy with respect to Bangladesh is vital as India shares the longest border with the latter and also because it is often acknowledged that 'India's northeast is Bangladesh-locked. The problems of resolving the Land Boundary Agreement and the Teesta water sharing accord, also require early answers. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, during her recent visit, called for a Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) Basin Regime, and gave strong arguments which would serve to complement the already existing BCIM agendas. 

The Road Ahead 

Besides harnessing the geostrategic potentials of Myanmar and Bangladesh, India also needs to develop a clear course of action with regard to China, and figure out ways to push forward the BCIM rather than making it prisoner of larger strategic and political estimations. If the BCIM is to accomplish what it was set up for, then 

(1) the import of an incremental approach towards the augmentation of sub-regional connectivity needs to be appreciated, 

(2) the Northeast must be rethought and refocused, 

(3) geostrategic considerations need redefining in view of the larger gains to be accrued from sub-regional connectivity, 

(4) avoid the constant risk of becoming the jailbirds of larger strategic and political estimations. 

Given the political baggage that is being shared by the four countries, it is understandable that the process of sharing their strengths and their resources will take time. But what is important is not to let time pass us by. 

(The writer is a Research Assistant at the ORF Kolkata) 

Plasmonics -->> Science and Technology

Plasmons are density waves of electrons, created when light hits the surface of a metal under precise circumstances. 

• These density waves are generated at optical frequencies and are very small and rapid. 
• They can theoretically encode a lot of information, more than what's possible for conventional electronics. 
• Plasmonics is thought to embody the strongest points of both optical and electronic data transfer, allowing the fast transmission of information over very small wires.

Optical data transfer, as in fiber optics, allows high bandwidth but requires bulky "wires" — really tubes with reflective interiors. Electronic data transfer operates at frequencies inferior to fiber optics, but only requires tiny wires. Plasmonics, sometimes called "light on a wire," would allow the transmission of data at optical frequencies along the surface of a tiny metal wire, despite the fact that the data travels in the form of electron density distributions rather than photons.

   

The main limitation to this technology today is that plasmons tend to dissipate after only a few millimeters, making them too short-lived to serve as a basis for computer chips, which are a few centimeters across. For sending data over longer distances, the technology would need even more improvement. 

The key is using a material with a low refractive index, ideally negative, such that the incoming electromagnetic energy is reflected parallel to the surface of the material and transmitted along its length as far as possible. No natural material with a negative refractive index exists, so nanostructured materials must be used to fabricate effective plasmonic devices. For this reason, plasmonics is frequently associated with nanotechnology.

• Before all-plasmonic chips are developed, the technology will probably be integrated with conventional silicon devices. 
• Plasmonic wires may act as high-bandwidth freeways across the busiest areas of the chip. 
• This technology has also been used in biosensors. 
• When a particular protein or DNA molecule rests on the surface of a plasmon-carrying metallic material, it leaves its characteristic signature in the angle at which it reflects the energy.

 

Understanding Chess !!

What is Castling?

Castling means moving the King more than one square in conjunction with either of the two Rooks. The goal is to place the King more safely, while at the same time moving the Rook from the corner square into a more playable position.

• Castling on the King's side: Play the King to King's Knight's square, and then place the King's Rook on King's Bishop's square.

• Castling on the Queen's side: Play the King to Q. Bishop's square, and Queen's Rook to Q's square.

But you can't castle at any point during the game. There are certain conditions under which a player is permitted to castle.

1. The King must not have moved.
2. The Rook must not have moved.
3. The King must not be in check.
4. The King must not pass over or on to any square attacked by your opponent.
5. There must be no Piece between the King and the Rook.

What is a Doubled Pawn?

Two Pawns of the same color on the same file. Generally considered a disadvantage. The front Pawn is called a doubled pawn.

What is an Isolated Pawn?

An isolated Pawn stands alone, without the support and protection of other Pawns. Generally considered a disadvantage.

What is a Drawn Game?

• When you can't give checkmate.

Examples: Perpetual check. Not enough Pieces on the board to give check: A King and a Knight only, or a King and two Knights.

• Both players repeat the same move over and over to avoid a loss.

• When one of the Kings is stalemated.

What is a Stalemate?

When one player has his own King so positioned that, while not in check at the moment, he cannot play him without going into check.

Important: That rule only applies when at the same time he has no other chess Piece to move instead.

What is a False Move?

Any illegal move, such as castling when the King is in check, moving a Rook diagonally, or moving a Bishop like a Knight, is called a false move.

What is a Fool's Mate?

The fastest and simplest of all checkmates. Note: Fool's Mate can't be given by the first player.

How to play a Fool's Mate?

White plays, K. Kt. P. to K. Kt's 4th. Black plays, K. P. to K's 4th.

White plays, K. B. P. to K. B's 4th. And Black plays, Q. to K. R's 5th, checkmate

What is J'adoube?

French expression, means "I arrange," or "I replace," which is used by a player when he touches a man merely to adjust its position on the board, without intending to play it.

What is Check and Checkmate?

The fundamental law of chess is that the King can never be taken. Instead, the King must be warned by the means of saying check.

The King must be moved out of check or be defended by other Pieces, by means of placing a Piece between the King and the attacking Piece, or by capturing. If that is not possible, then the game is over. Checkmate.

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For people who seek extra info

Action Chess: A game where each player only has 30 minutes to make all his moves.

Algebraic Notation: A method for writing moves down by using the names of the pieces and the ranks and files. Replaced older Descriptive Notation (“P-K4" is now "e4") about 1970.

Amateur: In chess, a non-master. At the US Amateur, masters cannot play.At the US Amateur Team tournaments, the team has to average below master rating. Note: in chess, amateurs can win money, sometimes quite a bit at tournaments like the World Open.

Attack: When you move a piece to a square where you could capture an opponent’s piece NEXT move.

Back Rank: The rank where a player sets up his major pieces (1st for White; 8th for Black)

Back-Rank Mate: A checkmate on the 1st or 8th rank with a Rook or Queen.

Battery: Lining up two pieces that move similarly, like a Queen and Rook or Queen and Bishop.

Blitz: Fast chess. Many blitz games are 5 minutes per player for the entire game.
Book Besides the kind with a spine, a “book” move is one that a player has learned to play in a particular position in the opening (from a “book” or other media) without the need to “calculate”.

Blunder :A bad move; primarily a move that turns a win into a loss or draw, or a draw into a loss.

Bughouse: A variant of chess with two players on each side – a player gets the pieces his partner captures.

Bye: What you get when you can’t play a round, but are still continuing to play in the tournament. Byes don’t count for ratings, but can be either 0 points, ½ point, or 1 point (in case you want to play, but are the odd person available)

Capture: (or Take) not Kill – to remove a piece from the board via a legal move
Castle To move your unmoved King 2 squares toward an unmoved Rook and to move the Rook on the other side of the King.

Check: An attack on the King. You do not have to announce “check”.

Checkmate: An attack on the King where there is no way for your opponent to finish his turn and not longer have the King attacked.

CTD: Club Tournament Director

Desperado: A piece that is going to be captured anyway so it can "sacrifice" itself at the highest cost.

Discovery: An attack by a piece that was opened up via another piece’s move.

Double Attack: An attack on two (or more) pieces by a single move

Doubled Pawns: Two pawns of the same color on the same file as a result of a capture

Doubled Rooks: Two Rooks forming a battery on a rank or file.

Draw: NOT “tie” - Any game that ends without either player winning, e.g. Stalemate, Lack of Mating Material, 50-Move Rule, etc.

En Passant: Capturing a pawn that moved 2 spaces with a pawn that could have captured it if it had only moved 1 space, on the next turn only.

En Prise: "In take" - able to be captured for free. A piece is en prise if it can be captured but is not guarded.

Endgame: The part of the game where the King should come out and fight (with fewer pieces left on the board). 

Expert: Someone with a US Chess Federation rating between 2000 and 2199 

Fianchetto: To develop a Bishop on a long diagonal (b2 or g2 for White; b7 or g7 for Black). 

FIDE: International Chess Federation 

FIDE Master: Someone with the lowest International Chess Title 

Fifty-Move Rule: A type of draw where both players make 50 moves consecutively without either player advancing a pawn or making a capture. 

File: The rows of a chessboard going up and down, lettered a-h (lower case), with “a” always on White’s left (and Black’s right) 

Five Minute/Blitz: A game where each player has five minutes to make all his moves. 

Flag: The part of an analog clock that rises when the minute hand nears the hour and falls at the hour. 

Fool’s Mate: A 2-move mate similar to 1. f3?? e5 2. g4??? Qh4# 

Forfeit: Has 2 Definitions, depending upon context 

1)When you don’t show up for a game (which is therefore not rated), or 
2)When someone loses on time, a “time forfeit” (which is rated like any other loss) 
Fork A double attack, usually by a Knight or Pawn (thus looking like a “fork” in the road). 

Grandmaster: Someone with the highest International Chess Title 

Illegal Move: A move that either a) Moves a piece in an illegal manner, or 2) Results in an illegal position. 

International Master: Someone with the intermediate International Chess Title 

Isolated Pawns: Pawns that have no other pawns of the same color on adjacent files. 

Knight: not Horse – the piece that moves like an “L” 

LTD: Local Tournament Director 

Master: Someone with a US Chess Federation rating between 2200 and 2399 

Material Piece value: when you win a pawn, a piece, the exchange, you are winning "material" 

NTD: National Tournament Director 

Open File: One with no pawns of either color 

Patzer: fish A weak chess player 

Piece: Has 3 definitions, depending upon context: 

1.All the chess men, as in “Get all the pieces out of the bag” 
2.The non-pawns, as in “You have to develop all your pieces”
3.A Bishop or Knight, as in “I am up (ahead) a piece” 

Pin: An attack by a Rook, Bishop, or Queen, on a piece that cannot/should not move because a piece behind the attacked piece along the line of attack is worth even more (if the piece behind is a King, this is an “absolute” pin) and the piece is not allowed to move, or it would put the King into check, which is illegal. 

Ply: A half-move, or the move of one player. When both players move, that is two ply, or one full move. 

Promote: What a pawn does that reaches the other side of the board, and assuming the move is legal, then under any circumstances it can promote to a Queen, Rook, Bishop, or Knight on the promoting square. So you can have nine Queens, possibly. 

Rank: The rows of a chessboard going sideways, numbered 1st-8th starting from White’s side as 1st 

Rating: A measure of skill.

Resigns: When you purposely turn down your King or say “I resign” – the game is over and you lose. Note that shaking hands does not end a game. 

Round Robin: A system of pairing players where everyone in the same (small) section plays everyone else.Unlike swiss system, this type of tournament calls for some level of commitment on the part of the players to attempt to complete all their games. 

Scholar’s Mate: To mate on f7 (or, for Black, f2) with a Queen or a Bishop in 4 moves – usually a very bad thing to try.When teaching about this, Dan calls this “Dumb and Dumber” 

Section: A part of a chess tournament where the players are paired together.Sections may be divided by rating class, scholastic vs. non-scholastic, rated vs. unrated, Scholastic Level, etc. 

Semi-Open File: A file with a only pawns of the opponent 

Senior Master: Someone with a US Chess Federation rating over 2399 

Skewer/ X-ray Tactical Motif: Sort of an inside-out pin. A move that attacks a piece of value, and there is a piece behind it along the line of attack of equal or lesser value that will be attacked anyway if the attacked piece moves. 

Skittles: Chess for fun or chess without a clock; A skittles room is where you go and play for fun while waiting for your next formal pairing. 

Stalemate: When the player to move isn’t in check, but none of his pieces can move. This is a type of draw (not all draws are stalemantes!) 

STD: Senior Tournament Director 

Sudden Death: A time control period where all the moves have to be played within a certain amount of time (on that player’s clock). 

Swiss System: A system of pairing tournaments whereby players are paired against other players who are doing about as well as they are. Wherever possible, players get about an equal number of games with Black and White, and will not play the same opponent twice. 

TD: Tournament Director 

Tactics: The aspect of moving pieces that involves piece safety and checkmating. The advanced form is considered “combinations” of tactical motifs, such as pins, forks, removal of the guard, etc. 

Team Tournament: A tournament where the players play in rating order, first board against first, second against second, etc.The result is a team win, loss, or draw, depending on whether most of the players win or lose (or half of them do). 

Tempo: The “time” it takes for one of the players to make one move. A “turn”. 

The Exchange: Winning a Rook for a Bishop or Knight is called winning “The Exchange” 

Threat: A move which can win material, checkmate, or make progress next move if the opponent does not stop it. Attacks on under-defended pieces are an example of a threat. 

Three-Fold Repetition of Position: A type of draw where the same position is reached three times with the same player to move. Does not require the same moves and can occur at any point in the game. 

Touch Move: The rule that says: 

1.If you touch a piece you have to move it, 
2.If you let go of a piece you have to leave it there 
3.If you displace an opponent’s piece, you have to take it. 


Woodpusher: A weak chess player 

Zugzwang: When you have to move, but any move is bad for you 

Zwischenzug: An in-between move. For example, instead of re-capturing, you give a check first