TRANSPOSITION (CHESS)

A 'transposition' in chess is a sequence of moves that results in a position which may also be reached by another, more common sequence of moves. A transposition of moves usually refers to an opening, in which a given position is arrived at by a different sequence of moves. For instance, the first position can be obtained from the Queen's Gambit:

★ '1. d4 d5'

★ '2. c4 e6'

★ '3. Nc3 Nf6'
But this position can also be reached from the English opening:

★ '1. c4 Nf6'

★ '2. Nc3 e6'

★ '3. d4 d5'
so the English opening has transposed into the Queen's Gambit.
The second position shows another example. The position can arise from the French Defense:

★ '1. e4 e6'

★ '2. d4 d5'

★ '3. exd5 exd5'

★ '4. Nf3 Nf6'
can also be obtained in the Petrov Defense:

★ '1. e4 e5'

★ '2. Nf3 Nf6'

★ '3. Nxe5 d6'

★ '4. Nf3 Nxe4'

★ '5. d3 Nf6'

★ '6. d4 d5' .
Transposition tables are an essential part of a computer chess program.

Contents

See also

References

See also

★ Chess terminology

References

★ .