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The Dictionary of Chess Slang & Culture

Chess has its own unique language. If you walk into a chess club (or join an online stream) and hear people talking about "Flagging," "Bunnies," and "Luft," this guide will translate for you.

Online Lingo Club Culture Gameplay Slang The Trash Talk

1. Online & Streaming Terms

Flagging Winning a game on time (the opponent's "flag falls") in a position that is otherwise drawn or lost. "He was up a Queen but I flagged him!"
Premove Entering your move before it is your turn. It consumes 0 seconds on the clock but is risky if the opponent plays something unexpected. "I premoved the capture and hung my Queen."
Berserk An option in some online tournaments to halve your own time in exchange for extra points if you win. "He went Berserk against Magnus?"
Mousetrap / Mouseslip Accidentally dropping a piece on the wrong square due to a mouse error. "That wasn't a sacrifice, it was a mouseslip!"
Adopted Losing 10 games in a row to the same opponent. "I just adopted this guy in Blitz."
Bongcloud A joke opening (1. e4 e5 2. Ke2) moving the King immediately. Disrespectful but legendary in streaming culture. "He played the Bongcloud in a tournament!"

2. The Tournament Hall

Kibitzer A spectator who watches a game and often offers unwanted advice or comments. "The kibitzers are saying White is winning."
Sandbagger A player who deliberately keeps their rating low (by losing on purpose) to enter tournaments for beginners and win easy prizes. "He's rated 1200 but plays like a Master. Total sandbagger."
Coffeehouse Chess A risky, aggressive style of play that relies on tricks and traps rather than sound strategy. Often effective in blitz but dubious in classical. "He plays pure coffeehouse chess, but it works!"
Swiss Gambit Deliberately losing or drawing in the first round of a Swiss tournament to get paired against weaker opponents in the following rounds.
J'adoube French for "I adjust." What you must say before touching a piece to center it, without intending to move it. "Touch move! No, I said J'adoube."
Grandmaster Draw A short, uninspiring game where both players agree to a draw early (often under 20 moves) to save energy.
Post-Mortem The analysis session between two players immediately after the game finishes. "Let's do a quick post-mortem in the skittles room."

3. Strategy & Tactics Slang

Swindle Winning (or drawing) a completely lost position by setting a tricky trap that the opponent falls into. "Marshall was the King of Swindles."
Hanging Leaving a piece completely undefended and liable to be captured for free. "I just hung my Rook!"
Harry the h-pawn A modern slang term (popularized by Simon Williams) for pushing the h-pawn up the board to attack the enemy King. "Throw Harry up the board!"
Luft German for "Air." Moving a pawn in front of your castled King to prevent a back-rank checkmate. "Always make luft before attacking."
Fianchetto (The House) Developing a Bishop to b2/g2 or b7/g7. Sometimes called "Putting the Bishop in the house."
The Exchange Trading a Rook (worth 5) for a Knight or Bishop (worth 3). "Winning the exchange" means you got the Rook.
Desperado A piece that is going to die anyway, so it sacrifices itself to take an enemy piece with it.
Spite Check A check given by a losing player that doesn't change the result, just delays the loss by one move.

4. Player Types (The Good & Bad)

Bunny / Rabbit British slang for a very weak player, or a specific opponent you beat constantly. "I'm playing my bunny in Round 1."
Patzer German for "bungler." A weak chess player. A step below a beginner; implies clumsiness. "I played like a complete patzer today."
Woodpusher A derogatory term for a player who moves pieces without any plan or understanding. "He's just a woodpusher."
Fish A very weak player that sharks (strong players) like to feed on.
Tourist A player who enters a tournament with no realistic chance of winning, just there for the scenery.
Tilt A state of emotional frustration after a loss that causes you to play worse and lose more games. "I'm on full tilt, I lost 50 rating points."