page_title: Glossary of chess
section_title: C
hierarchical_section_title: Glossary of chess / C
caption_attribution_description: English: Starting position of a chess game. House of Staunton Collector set.
context_page_description: This glossary of chess explains commonly used terms in chess, in alphabetical order. Some of these terms have their own pages, like fork and pin.
context_section_description: Caïssa 
  Known as the goddess or muse of chess, whose name is taken from a nymph in a 1763 poem, Caïssa or The Game at Chess, by Sir William Jones.
  calculate 
  To plan mentally a series of moves and consider possible responses, without actually moving the pieces.
  candidate move 
  A move that seems good upon initial observation of the position, and that warrants further analysis.
  Candidates Match 
  A knockout match in the Candidates Tournament.
  Candidates Tournament 
  A tournament organised by the FIDE, the third and last qualifying cycle of the World Chess Championship. The participants are the top players of the Interzonal tournament plus possibly other players selected on the basis of rating or performance in the previous candidates tournament. The top ranking player(s) qualify(ies) for the world championship.
  can-opener 
  The plan of attacking a kingside, sometimes a fianchetto position, by advancing the h-pawn with the intention of opening a file near the defender's king.
  capped piece 
  A particular piece with which one player attempts to deliver checkmate. Agreeing to play with a capped piece provides the stronger player an extra challenge, thereby conferring upon himself a handicap. When the capped piece is a pawn, it is called a pion coiffé [from French, "capped pawn"].
  capture 
  A move by a pawn or piece that removes from the board the opponent's pawn or piece. The capturing piece then occupies the square of the captured piece (except in the case of a capture that is done en passant).
  castling 
  A move in which the king and a rook are moved at the same time. It moves the king from the center to a flank where it usually is safer, and it develops the rook. It is the only time two pieces are moved in a turn. Castling can be done on either the kingside (notated 0-0) or the queenside (0-0-0). Castling cannot be done in reply to a check, nor if the king were to cross or land on a square which is under attack by the opponent, nor if either the king or the rook involved has already moved.
  castling into it 
  A situation where one side castles and a result is that the king is in more danger at the destination than on the initial square, either immediately or because lines and diagonals can be more readily opened against it.
  castling long 
  Castling queenside; in chess notation: 0-0-0.
  castling short 
  Castling kingside; in chess notation: 0-0.
  casual game 
  See friendly game.
  category of a tournament 
  The category of a tournament is a measure of its strength based on the average FIDE rating of the participants. The category is calculated by rounding up the number: (average rating − 2250) ÷ 25. So each category covers a 25-point rating range, starting with Category 1 which spans ratings between 2251 and 2275. A Category 18 tournament has an average rating between 2676 and 2700.
  CC 
  An abbreviation sometimes used for correspondence chess.
  center 
  Or centre. The four squares in the middle of the board. See also expanded center. Sometimes short for pawn center. A king "in the center" can refer to an uncastled king on a center file.
  center file 
  Or centre file. The king's file (e-file) or queen's file (d-file).
  center pawn 
  Or centre pawn. A pawn on the king's file (e-file) or queen's file (d-file).
  central file 
  See center file.
  centralization 
  Moving a piece or pieces toward the center of the board, where they will not only control the center, but their influence will extend to other areas. Pieces are best placed near the center of the board, because they increase their power and maneuverability. Knights in particular benefit from being centralized. Antonym: decentralization.
  central pawn 
  See center pawn.
  cheapo 
  Slang for a primitive trap, often set in the hope of swindling a win or a draw from a lost position. Also called cheap shot.
  check 
  A direct attack on the king by an enemy man. The attacked king is said to be in check. There are only three possible immediate responses to a check: capturing the attacking piece, moving the king to an unattacked square, or interposing a piece between the attacker and the king. In casual games a pla
caption: A wooden chess set and board
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