Available captures

A legal attack is an arrow from a piece to an enemy piece it can capture without exposing its own king. A piece pinned to its king still attacks along that pin, including the pinning piece, and does not attack off the pin. A king attack counts only when the capture is safe.

Why you should notice it

A piece that looks like it attacks something may not be allowed to take it. If you count a pinned bishop as a defender, or a king capture onto a protected square, the position is not the one you think you are playing.

When to check it

During threat assessment, list the captures the opponent can legally make on your pieces. While finding a move, list the captures you can legally make on theirs. Same arrows as attacked pieces, with the illegal ones removed.

Why players miss it during games

The eye follows the line of a bishop or rook and treats every piece on that line as attacked. A pin to the king removes the captures that leave the line. A king standing next to a pawn is not an attack when another piece defends that pawn.

How WayChess trains it

You draw an arrow from each attacker to each piece it can legally capture, first for the opponent’s attacks on you, then for your attacks on them. A correct arrow turns green. A missed one appears in amber. An extra one turns red. If that side has no legal attack, submit with no arrows.

Related checks

Attacked pieces counts every geometric attack, including pieces that are pinned to their king. This habit keeps only the captures that are legal. A move that gives check is a different arrow: see legal checks.

See all habits or how the thinking process works.