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Beginner lesson 3/20
Captures and check
Learn capturing and what it means when the king is attacked.
Learn this chess concept step by step, then practise it on the interactive ChessRivo board.
Open interactive lessonAbout this lesson
Most pieces capture the same way they move. A king in check must be defended immediately.
Key ideas
- You may capture an opposing piece by moving onto its square.
- You may not make a move that leaves your own king in check.
- A check can be answered by moving, blocking or capturing the attacker.
Coach tip: Before every move, ask: is my king safe?
Test yourself
Can you ignore a check and play elsewhere?
- Yes
- No
Show answer
Correct answer: No
Practise this lesson interactively
Open the ChessRivo Academy board exercise for this exact lesson. Your progress is saved when you are signed in.
Open interactive lessonHow to use this lesson in a real game
Turn the idea into a repeatable decision process.
- Before moving, name the position feature this lesson is about.
- Find one candidate move that follows the lesson idea and one alternative.
- After the game, return to the critical position and compare your choice with the lesson.