Sally?

I hear people use this term in chess quite a bit. e.g. "Queen sally on move 4" Can anyone tell me what a "sally" is?

Never heard of it....sorry!

sal·ly
intr.v. sal·lied, sal·ly·ing, sal·lies

1. To rush out or leap forth suddenly.
2. To issue suddenly from a defensive or besieged position to attack an enemy.
3. To set out on a trip or excursion: sallied forth to see the world.



It's often used when speaking of battles and what not. And so a 'Queen sally' is simply a push forward with her majesty.

Originally posted by dyl
sal·ly
intr.v. sal·lied, sal·ly·ing, sal·lies

1. To rush out or leap forth suddenly.
2. To issue suddenly from a defensive or besieged position to attack an enemy.
3. To set out on a trip or excursion: sallied forth to see the world.



It's often used when speaking of battles and what not. And so a 'Queen sally' is simply a push forward with her majesty.

I think my "King" just sallied itself!

I used to like Aunt Sally in Worzel Gummidge lol.

"Sally ports" were a feature of castles and fortresses, a closely-guarded opening or door in the wall of a fortified building designed for the quick passage of troops. One of the primary uses of these doors was to mount quick attacks on whatever enemy army might be besieging the castle at the moment, and here's where we meet "sally." A "sally," from the Latin "salire" meaning "to jump," was originally a sudden rush out of a besieged position, a lightning attack designed to surprise the enemy. "Sally" in this original sense first appeared around 1560, and "sally port" is first found around 1649. "Sally" has since acquired the broader sense of "an excursion or escapade." And since castles and fortresses are in short supply these days, "sally port" has gradually come to mean any guarded doorway or opening.

...which perfectly answers the original question. To sally forth is relatively commonly used, albeit usually when the speaker wants to be deliberately archaic.

I couldn't have said it better myself.