Knowing some very important chess terms is almost inevitable for all the chess players. If you are new to the game of chess, there are certain terms that must be learned before you step on to the chess battlefield. Let us learn about these terms:
- Check: The term “Check” simply means or it gives the warning that the King is in danger and that the King requires immediate attention. In this situation, the player must find a way out to save its King from the approaching threat. To save the King, the player is left with three options. These are:
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- Capture the attacking piece.
- Blocking the line of fire, placing a new piece between the attacking piece and the King.
- Moving the King from the line of fire.
- Checkmate or mate: If it is not possible to save the King from the above-mentioned options, then it is called “checkmate” or “mate“. As King is the most valuable piece in the game of chess and if you are not able to get it out of danger, then it is checkmate and the game is over. Unfortunately, you have lost the game. Giving checkmate is the main goal of the chess player, the one who gives the checkmate is the winner.
- Stalemate: The game reaches such a situation when the player’s King is not checked, it’s his turn to move and his not left with any legal move. The chess rules state that this situation would bring the game to draw (i.e having no winner), no matter what advantage one side could have over the other and is called “Stalemate“.
- Even some advanced players wonder why it does not count as a win. The reason is that the losing side cannot avoid exposing their King to check, but they are not yet in check!
So be careful next time you play chess! Happy playing Chess!
Related: Birth of the Chess Queen: The most dominant piece on the board
