Glossary of Chess - F

F

Family fork, family check

A knight fork that simultaneously attacks the enemy king (giving check), queen, and possibly other pieces.

Fast chess

A form of chess in which both sides are given less time to make their moves than under the normal tournament time controls. See also blitz chess.

FEN (Forsyth-Edwards Notation)

Abbreviation for Forsyth-Edwards Notation, which is a standard notation for describing a particular board position of a chess game. The purpose of FEN notation is to provide all the necessary information to restart a game from a particular position.

Fianchetto

Refers to a bishop developed to the second square and the longest diagonal on the file of the adjacent knight (that is, b2 or g2 for White, b7 or g7 for Black), or the process of developing a bishop to one of those squares. It usually occurs after moving the pawn on that file ahead one square (or perhaps two). The Italian word is actually a noun ("in fianchetto") and not a verb.

FIDE

The World Chess Federation (Fédération Internationale des Échecs), the primary international chess organizing and governing body. The abbreviated name FIDE is nearly always used in place of the full name in French.

FIDE Master (FM)

A chess title ranking below International Master.

Fifty-move rule

A draw may be claimed if no capture or pawn move has occurred in the last fifty moves by either side.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

The f -file

File

A column of the chessboard. A specific file can be named either using its position in algebraic notation, a–h, or by using its position in descriptive notation. For example, the f-file or the king bishop file comprises the squares f1–f8 (or KB1–KB8 in descriptive chess notation).

First board

See top board.

First-move advantage

The slight (by most accounts) advantage that White has by virtue of moving first.

Fischer delay

A time control method with time delay, invented by Robert Fischer. When it becomes a player's turn to move, the delay is added to the player's remaining time.

Fischer Random

See Chess960.

Flag

Part of an analogue chess clock (usually red) which indicates when the minute hand passes the hour. To flag someone means winning the game on the basis of the opponent exceeding the time control.

Flank

The queenside a-, b-, and c-files, or the kingside f-, g-, and h-files, also called wing; distinguished from the center d- and e-files.

Flank opening

A chess opening played by White and typified by play on one or both flanks.

Flight square

A square to which a piece can move, which allows it to escape attack. See also escape square and luft.

FM

Abbreviation for the FIDE Master title.

Focal point

The square upon which a player focuses an attack, e.g. by repeatedly attacking that square or sacrificing a piece there. For example, in an attack upon an uncastled king, Black's f7-square (or White's f2-square) is a common focal point. Examples of attacks on the focal point f7 include the Fried Liver Attack (initiated by a knight sacrifice on f7) and the primitive Scholar's Mate (ending with checkmate on f7).

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Fool's Mate

Fool's mate

The shortest possible chess game ending in mate: 1. f3 e5 2. g4 Qh4# (or minor variations on this).

Forced move

A move which is the only one which does not result in a serious disadvantage for the moving player. "Forced" can also be used to describe a sequence of moves for which the player has no viable alternative, e.g. "the forced win of a piece" or "a forced checkmate". In these cases the player cannot avoid the loss of a piece or checkmate, respectively.

Forfeit

Refers to losing the game by absence or by exceeding the time control (forfeit on time).

Fork

A simultaneous attack by a single piece on two (or more) of the opponent's pieces (or other direct target, such as a mate threat). When the attacker is a knight the tactic is often specifically called a knight fork. Some sources state that only a knight can give a fork and that the term double attack is correct when another piece is involved, but this is by no means a universal usage.

Fortress

A fortress is a position that, if obtained by the weaker side, will prevent the opposing side from penetration, this generally resulting in a draw (which the weaker side is seeking).

Friendly game

A game that is not played as part of a match, tournament, or exhibition. Often the game is not timed, but if a chess clock is used rapid time-controls are common. The term refers only to the circumstances in which the game is played, not the relationship between the players or the intensity of the competition. Also called a casual game.