This guide attempts to briefly describe or define the various terms, phrases and names in common use relating to the subject of chess variants. Chess variants are those games which are related in some way to chess. The term 'chess' as used here, refers to a board game utilizing several different piece types (i.e. pieces which move on the board in different ways), typically with a single royal piece which must be captured or cornered as a winning condition.This guide attempts to document common usage and is not an attempt to create a standard. While there may be a desire for standards within the chess variant community, the need does not seem great enough to necessitate the creation of a standard terminology. Note that the subject of fairy chess problems is not covered, although many terms used in chess variantsoriginate from this area of activity. Also note that this guide does not attempt to include all notable chess variant games. This has already been attempted (see the Classified Encyclopedia of Chess Variants and WGR: ChessVariations issue).