You cannot block a pawn check because pawns attack diagonally onto adjacent squares. Learn how to respond when a pawn checks your king.

You cannot block a knight check because knights jump directly to their target squares. Learn how to respond when a knight attacks your king.

You can sometimes capture the piece giving check, but the capture must leave your king safe. Learn when this response is legal and when it fails.

Not sure whether castling is legal? Use this simple checklist to check every condition before making the move.

Check means the king is under attack but has a legal escape. Checkmate means the king is in check with no legal way to escape.

Being in check does not always mean the king has to move. Learn the three ways a player can legally respond to check.

A king can capture an opposing piece only if the destination square is not protected by another enemy piece.

Moving your king even once permanently removes your castling rights, even if the king later returns to its original square.

Moving your king even once permanently removes your castling rights, even if the king later returns to its original square.

Being in check earlier does not automatically remove your castling rights. Learn when you can still castle, what happens if your king moved, and which squares must be safe.