Definitions for "Luft"
A German word meaning 'air' - used as another term for a flight square for the King. (See also flight square.)
German "air." Moving a pawn so the king has an escape square to prevent back-rank mates.
(from the German for ''air''): space made for a castled king to give it a flight square to prevent a back rank mate. Usually ''luft'' is made by moving a pawn on the second rank in front of the king.