Legal checks

A legal check is a legal move after which the other king is in check. The arrow is that move: from the piece’s square to the square it lands on. It is not a line drawn onto the king. One piece can have several such moves. Several promotions that land on the same square are one arrow.

Why you should notice it

A check is a fact about the position, not a feeling that the king looks exposed. If you miss a check the opponent can play, you miss the threat that takes the move away from you. If you miss a check you can play, you start calculating without the forcing move that was already there.

When to check it

During threat assessment, list every legal check the opponent can give. While finding a move, list every legal check you can give. If you are already in check, the opponent has no move on this turn, so that first list is empty. If nobody has a checking move, the right answer is to submit with no arrows.

Why players miss it during games

Checks hide in quiet-looking moves: a knight jump, a pawn push that discovers a line, a promotion, a castle. Players who only look for a piece already aimed at the king skip the move that would create the check. Puzzle sites usually put the check in the solution. Over the board you have to notice it before you decide what to calculate.

How WayChess trains it

You draw every legal checking move on many positions, first the opponent’s checks against you, then the checks you can give. Feedback marks a correct arrow, a missed check, and an extra arrow that does not give check. Castling and en passant count when they are legal and give check.

Related checks

An attacked piece is a capture that is already legal. A legal check is a move that gives check, which may or may not capture anything. A queen attack is one piece’s attacks; this scan is every checking move, by any piece. Opening a line to the king is the new check a move creates by leaving the line.

See all habits or how the thinking process works.