Check vs Checkmate: A Beginner’s Guide to Chess

Chess is a game of strategy and tactics, where players move their pieces across a board to capture the opponent’s king. But what happens when a player’s king is under attack? That’s where the concepts of check and checkmate come in. Understanding these two concepts is crucial for any beginner chess player.

Check: Putting the King in Danger

A check occurs when a player’s king is under direct attack by an opponent’s piece. For example, if a queen is positioned to capture the king, the king is in check. The player whose king is in check must immediately take action to protect their king.

Think of it like this: Imagine your king is a helpless person, and the opponent’s pieces are like attackers. When an attacker aims at your king, you’re in check! You need to do something to protect your king from being captured.

How to Escape a Check

There are three main ways to escape a check:

• Capture the attacking piece: If you can move one of your pieces to capture the piece that’s attacking your king, you can get out of check. This is like disarming the attacker.
• Move the king out of the line of attack: If the king can move to a square where it is no longer under attack, you can escape the check. This is like getting out of the way of the attacker.
• Interpose a piece: You can place one of your pieces between the attacking piece and the king. This blocks the attack and removes the check. This is like putting a shield between your king and the attacker.

Remember the acronym CPR: Capture the attacking piece, Protect the king by moving it, or Runaway by interposing a piece.

Checkmate: The End of the Game

Checkmate occurs when a player’s king is in check and there is no way to escape the attack. The king is trapped, and the game is over. The player who delivers checkmate wins the game.

Think of checkmate like this: Imagine your king is trapped in a room with no way out, and the attacker is closing in. You can’t escape, and the attacker wins.

Example: Check vs Checkmate

Here’s an example to illustrate the difference between check and checkmate.

In this position, the black king is in check by the white queen. Black can move their king to H8, escaping the check. However, if black moves their king to H8, the white queen can then capture the black king, resulting in checkmate.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between check and checkmate is fundamental to playing chess. By learning how to escape check and how to create checkmate situations, you can improve your strategic thinking and become a better chess player.

Remember, check is a warning, but checkmate is the final blow. So, stay vigilant, protect your king, and aim for checkmate!