--- title: "Novelty in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/novelty.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/novelty" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "A novelty is a move that has not been played before in a known position of an opening. Players prepare novelties in advance." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/out-of-book.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opening-theory.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opening-preparation.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/refutation.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/opening-concepts.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Novelty in chess > **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md. A novelty is a move that has not been played before in a known position of an opening. Players prepare novelties in advance. A novelty is a move that has not been played before in a known position of an opening, introduced to take the opponent out of their preparation and into unexplored territory. A novelty is a new move in a position that has already been played many times. It is a theoretical term: the move is new compared with the games and analysis available when it is played. Players prepare novelties in advance. The aim is to reach a position where the opponent has to think for themselves while the player who has prepared already knows the main points. A good novelty is not just new; it also has to be sound, so that the new position really is at least equal for the player who played it. Novelties are found by deep analysis, by comparing a line with the ideas of a similar position, or by checking the moves that earlier players rejected. A novelty often appears at a moment when a known idea is slightly improved, for example by changing the order of two moves. For most players the term is mostly useful as a way to understand how [theory](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opening-theory.md) grows. In your own games, do not try to find a novelty for its own sake. Focus on understanding the position well enough to find strong moves when the opponent leaves the known path. A typical [mistake](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mistake.md) is to play a surprising move that does not hold up when the opponent answers it correctly. Also called: theoretical novelty. A neighboring idea is [Repertoire building](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/repertoire-building.md). Repertoire building is the process of choosing a small set of openings that suit your style and then learning their ideas, typical plans and key lines well enough to play them confidently. A neighboring idea is [Out of book](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/out-of-book.md). A player is out of book when the game reaches a position that neither side is recalling from opening knowledge or preparation, so from that move on the choices have to be worked out at the board. It sits close to [Refutation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/refutation.md). A refutation is a reply that shows an opening move, line or idea to be unsound by punishing it concretely, so that the side that chose it ends up worse or lost with best play. Whether "Novelty" suits your repertoire depends on the games you play. A [first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md) with George Li maps what you play today and what to build next. ## Related terms - [Out of book](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/out-of-book.md) - [Opening theory](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opening-theory.md) - [Opening preparation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opening-preparation.md) - [Refutation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/refutation.md) ## Guides that go further - [Most popular chess openings and win rates](https://georgelichess.com/chess-opening-statistics.md): The most played openings, how often White wins, and how the numbers change with rating, computed from public games. - [How to choose a chess coach](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach.md): What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid. - [The first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md): A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li. [Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com. ## Related - [Out of book in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/out-of-book.md) - [Opening theory in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opening-theory.md) - [Opening preparation in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opening-preparation.md) - [Refutation in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/refutation.md) - [Chess terms: Opening concepts](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/opening-concepts.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)