![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/CheckmateProper.jpg/640px-CheckmateProper.jpg&w=640&q=50)
Check and checkmate
term in chess / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Check is a term in chess when a player's king is attacked. If the king is in check, the player must find a way to stop the threat; he can not just ignore it. The player must do one of these things:
- Capture the checking piece (with the king or another piece).
- Interpose: put a piece between the checking piece and the king. This only works if the checking piece is a long-distance piece (bishop, rook or queen).
- Move the king to a square which is not threatened.
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/CheckmateProper.jpg/640px-CheckmateProper.jpg)
If none of these works, then it is not a check but checkmate.[1][2]