Partiets faser

The first phase of the game, when both sides mobilize pieces, contest the center, and prepare king safety.

The stage where initial preparation gives way to concrete plans based on the present structure, activity, and weaknesses.

The phase between the opening and endgame, where strategic plans and concrete tactics interact most intensely.

A position without queens that retains enough material, activity, and complexity to function as a middlegame.

The period in which exchanges and structural changes turn middlegame priorities into endgame priorities.

The reduced-material phase in which the king becomes active and pawn promotion often grows in importance.