1. The phase of a chess game that follows the opening and precedes the endgame, characterized by active piece play and tactical opportunities.
Usage: chess term; often written as two words (middle game) or hyphenated (middle-game) in some contexts

Examples

• In the middlegame, both players launched aggressive attacks against each other's kings.
• Strong middlegame play requires understanding tactics and piece coordination.
• She excels in the middlegame but sometimes struggles with endgame technique.
• The middlegame is where most chess games are decided.
• After the opening, the middlegame began with complex positions and multiple threats.
• Studying middlegame patterns helped him improve his overall chess strength.