The term "sharp" what's its meaning in chess?

what do npeople mean when they refer to a game or opening as being "sharp" ?

risky, on edge for both sides, one mistake will likely end the game if capitilized on. Usually one mistake won't kill you if play isn't sharp.

thanks for the explination :)

Generally, my understanding is that it means highly tactical, i.e. complex, with good attacking opportunities for both sides. Lots of potential forcing moves (checks, captures, threats, etc). It's the opposite of "quiet", where few, if any, forcing moves are present.

"Sharp" as used by Max Euwe in his books, meant to use one of his terms "to accelerate the crisis".

That is, chess from the first move is about two opposing forces and their opposing plans. To have a "sharp" position is where those plans meet each other directly and one plan can "win out" at any move. For insstance the poisoned pawn line of the Sicllian  Nadjorf is a very sharp line. One side's plan is to take a pawn and hold it. The other side wants to punish black for lack of attention to development and the centre.

sharp= 'requiring accurate play'.

It doesnt necessarily have to be tactical, there are positionally sharp positions as well. Though most usually it refers to the tactics in a position, as tactics are forcing.

I am not sure that I agree with thta entirely.

A position need not be open or tactical to be sharp. You can have two positional plans in conflict as well and that is a sharpness that for me is decisive.

For instance to me in a "quiet" opening like the Queen Gambit Declined exchange line white will often launch a minority attack on the queenside. Now if black employs poor positional consideration to this white can win out quickly and decisively. So for me this is still a sharp position; there can be a decisive resolution of two plans.

p.s I was replying to shadowknight - I agree with the above comment!!!

or scissors... this guy was extremely sharp

fireworks !

Best explanation, in a few words👍

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_chess#S

Has FM1127 been here since 2013?

Sharp means the number of good moves are limited and you need to be precise.

In an ordinary opening you have a host of possible moves available to pick from which more or less hold equality.

However in a sharp opening, you have only a select few moves that help you maintain equality. If you play something else then you will quickly find yourself in a worse position.

What are the openings that would be considered "positionally sharp"?

Sharp - when you and your opponent are so tense you have goosebumps