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Basics

Tempo

A single move, thought of as a unit of time; you 'gain a tempo' by making a useful move that also forces a reply.

Chess is a race to get your pieces working, and each move is one unit of that time. Developing a piece while attacking something gains a tempo; being forced to retreat loses one.

In the opening especially, a couple of wasted tempi can be the whole difference between a comfortable game and a bad one.

Why it matters

Counting tempi explains why early queen raids and repeated piece moves are punished so reliably.

The mistake everyone makes

Making 'threats' that the opponent answers with developing moves — you lose a tempo and help them develop.

Related terms

Development
Bringing your pieces off the back rank into active, useful positions.
Initiative
The ability to make threats the opponent must answer, keeping them reacting rather than acting.
Zwischenzug
An unexpected in-between move played before the 'obvious' recapture.
Opening principles
The starter rules: control the centre, develop pieces, castle early, don't move the queen out too soon.

See Tempo in your own games

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