How to Checkmate
Win more chess games by understanding checkmate.
What We’ll Cover
Check
Getting out of check
Checkmate
Why it Matters
Checkmate ends the game! So it’s important that you know how to navigate it- to win more games, yes- but also to know your options when your chess opponent has your King on the run.
Check
Check is a position where an enemy piece has moved to a square where its range of attack reaches the King.
In this image, the black Bishop is now threatening the King. White has to respond to this check. It can’t be ignored.
Getting Out of Check
There are only 3 options to escape check. If you can’t do any of the three, the position is checkmate and the game ends immediately.
When you find yourself in check, you can remember “A, B, C” to recall your options. Let’s look at each now.
A - Avoid
The first thing you’ll want to see is if there’s a safe square you’re able to move to that’s not attacked by enemy pieces.
If there are, note them, and check your other options. You’ll always check all 3 then pick your best one.
In this image, the King has 2 available safe squares to move to.
B - Block
Look for any pieces you have that can get in the line of attack of the piece threatening your King. If you have something that can get in the way, you can block the check.
C - Charge
Check if you have any pieces that are able to capture the piece checking you, removing the threat completely. In this example, there are none.
Make a Choice
Once you know all of your options, you can pick the best one for each situation.
Remember that if you move your King you lose your ability to castle, so it’s often best to block or capture the attacker.
Checkmate
If the King in check can’t do A, B, or C, the position is checkmate and the game is over. Remember, Kings are never captured in chess.
Notice here that:
The King is in check by the black Rook
White has no available safe squares (A)
White has no pieces that can block the Rook check (B)
White has no pieces to capture the piece checking (C)
This would be checkmate. Note: for simplicity’s sake, there’s no black King in the example, but in a real game, there would be.
Action Step
Think through your A, B, C’s in a game and pick your best choice.
Wrap Up
You now know exactly what to do when your opponent starts checking your King. Use these tools to safeguard your King and limit your opponent’s King to deliver the winning move.
If you want a free chess guide to help you remember your escape options, you can download that below.
Happy playing.
