Opening a line to the king

Opening a line to the king is a move that leaves a square on the line between a bishop, rook, or queen and the king. After the move the other side has a new check, from that piece to the square it lands on.

Why you should notice it

The check was not there before the move. A piece stepped off the line, and a slider can now reach the king. The arrow you draw is that checking move, not a line painted onto the king.

When to check it

This is a blunder check. A purple arrow shows the candidate. Ask: does that move open one new sliding check, and is that check safe? You also train the opponent’s move doing the same thing to your king.

A legal check is a check that already exists. This habit is the check the candidate creates. A check the move itself gives, including an immediate discovered check, is a different motif.

Why players miss it during games

The candidate is about the piece that moves. The check belongs to a piece that has not moved yet. Knight and pawn checks do not count here, and a check that hangs the checker is not the answer.

How WayChess trains it

You draw one straight arrow: the new checking move, from the piece to the square it lands on. After you submit, a correct arrow turns green, a missed check turns amber, and an extra arrow turns red.

Related checks

A legal check lists checks that are already available. Interrupting communication is a move that blocks a defender, not a line to the king.

See all habits.