chaalwise

Reference / Chess

Tempo

Concept, intermediate

Also called Tempi, Gaining time.

A unit of time: one move. Gaining a tempo means making progress while forcing the other side to respond.

Developing a piece with a threat gains a tempo: the other side spends its move answering. In the opening, a few tempi can decide who controls the game.

Related

  • Lead or answer wellEither set the agenda with threats, or answer the other side precisely. Drifting between the two loses.
  • DevelopmentBringing pieces from their starting squares into play, usually knights and bishops first.
  • GambitAn opening that gives up material, usually a pawn, for time, development or attack.