Chess Terminology (M)

Chess Terms Starting With "M"

Major piece: A queen or rook.

Majority: a larger numbers of pawns on one flank opposed by a smaller number of the opponent's; often a player with a majority on one flank has a minority on the other.

Mate: Short for checkmate.

Material: All of a player's pieces and pawns on the board. The player with pieces and pawns of greater value is said to have a "material advantage".

Middlegame: The part of a chess game that follows the opening and comes before the endgame, beginning after the pieces are developed in the opening. This is usually roughly moves 20 through 40.

Minor exchange: The exchange of a bishop for a knight.

Minor piece: A bishop or knight.

Minority attack: An advance of pawns on the side of the board where one has fewer pawns than the opponent, usually carried out to provoke a weakness.

Mobility: The ability of a piece to move around the board.

Mobile pawn center: Being able to move pawns around central squares without weakening one's position.

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