Check and the three ways out
In short
A king that is attacked is “in check”. The player in check must get out of it immediately.
By the end you can
- Recognise check
- Know the three answers: move, block, capture
The lesson
A king that is attacked is “in check”. The player in check must get out of it immediately. There are exactly three ways: move the king to a safe square, put a piece in between (block), or capture the piece that is giving check.
Before choosing, look at all three. Capturing the checking piece is often best because it wins material, but only if the capture is safe. Blocking with a valuable piece can lose it. Moving the king is safe only if the new square is not attacked.
Key points to remember
- Check = the king is attacked
- Three escapes: move, block, capture
- Look at all three before deciding
- You may never leave your king in check
Examples
Show the solution
1. Kxe2
Practise it
Solve puzzles on this idea: hanging piece puzzles.
Homework
Play two games where you say “check” and name the escape each time.
More rules & board lessons
- The chessboard and its coordinates (Foundation)
- Long-range pieces: rook, bishop and queen (Foundation)
- Knight, king and pawn (Foundation)
- Castling (Foundation)
- Promotion and en passant (Foundation)
- What the pieces are worth (Foundation)