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.

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.
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.

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.
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.
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."