A term used to describe the quality of a chess position that inhibits mobility or freedom of movement for pieces usually behind pawns of the same color. A cramped position lacks space. When a player's position is cramped, then that player has less freedom of maneuver than his opponent. A player that is cramped cannot switch the play from one side of the board to the other as quickly as his opponent. A cramped position is one key quality in assessing a chess position. Category: Glossary 1 visitor(s) thought this was helpful. Do you