From: Kevin Tsai <STSAI <at> HUSC <dot> BITNET>
Date: 26 jan 1994
Subject: a question on chess terms

   Dear Shogi mailing-list members,

   I have a question about English terms on chess.

   Suppose Black is in a losing position. If he
   continues the "best" moves, he will lose the
   game definitely. In such a case, human players
   selects a move that may turn the tables. If
   White finds the best move,  Black is severely
   defeated. But if White makes a error by any chance,
   Black can win the game.

   How do they express the Black's taking-his-chance move?

   In shogi, we call it "shobu-te".

In chess, we call it "bad play." ;)

Actually, the closest thing I can think of is "cheapo" or "tactical
cheapo." This terminology is probably most prevalent in the US.  A
cheapo refers to a move that is obviously losing but the move also has
a little trap. So if white does not see the trap and walk right into
it, black wins. For example, if black is losing badly, and he abandons
his, say, knight to set up a fool's mate, then if white takes the
knight, black would mate him immediately.  However, with careful play,
white would end up in a much superior position.



Absalom on Drugs
stsai <at> husc <dot> harvard <dot> edu