Check in Chess
Check is the most immediate threat in chess—a direct attack on the king. You cannot ignore it; you must respond. This guide explains the rules of check, the three ways to escape it (capture, block, move), and how to use checking as a tactical tool to force your opponent's hand.
When the King Is Under Attack
The concept of 'check' is the most fundamental warning in chess, signaling an immediate threat to the king.
A check is a threat, not the end of the game. Unlike checkmate, there is still at least one legal defense.
Whenever you are in check, you have only three types of legal responses: move the king, capture the attacker, or block the check (blocking is only possible against a rook, bishop, or queen).
Examples of Check — and How to Respond
In every position below, the king is in check. Each diagram shows a different legal way to deal with the threat.
1) Move the King to Safety
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White is in check from the rook on the e-file. The defense is to move the king to a safe square (e.g. Kd3).
2) Capture the Checking Piece
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The bishop on c4 gives check along the diagonal to the king. White can simply capture it: Nd2xc4.
3) Block the Check
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A rook gives a file check. White blocks the line by interposing a piece: Ng2–e3.
4) Knight Check (Cannot Be Blocked)
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The knight gives check (there is no “line” to block). White must move the king or capture the knight (here: c3xd4).
5) Capture the Attacker with a Bishop
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The rook on e8 checks the white king. White can capture it with the bishop: Bh5xe8. (Black king is on h8 for full legality/context.)
Check vs Checkmate
A check becomes checkmate when none of the three defenses are available. That is when the game ends.
If at least one legal response exists, it is not checkmate — even if the position looks dangerous.