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A fianchetto (from the Italian for "engagement", a diminutive
of "fianco", a flank) is the development of any bishop and 3 side
pawns (ie. K/Q-side BP+KtP+RP) into a defensive
arrangement that is difficult for an opponent to attack but from where the
bishop can control the centre-diagonal (king's-side example,
left). |
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Centuries ago, before the pawn initial double-move was introduced,
it was usual to develop bishops in this way because moving a centre
pawn (ie. P-Q3 or P-K3)
always hindered the path of one or other bishop. |
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The native Indian form of chess still uses only the pawn initial
single-move, and thus a fianchettoed bishop is sometimes called an
"Indian" bishop. It is most often formed during
queen's pawn side-defences (eg. the
King's Indian, the
Kotov-Robatsch, the
Queen's Indian and the
Tarrasch), but it also has its frequent
strategic uses for White in flank openings
(eg. the Barcza System). |
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Basics
Basics - Terminology Overview
Terms.2 - Gambits