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Worksheet: Capturing and Check

Topic: basics | Level: 1 | Start Here branch

Most captures follow a piece's normal move pattern, except pawns, which capture diagonally forward. Check means the king is under attack right now.

Why This Matters

  • Most pieces capture by using the same move pattern they normally use, except the destination square has an enemy piece on it.
  • Pawns are special: they move straight forward, but they capture one square diagonally forward.
  • The square a piece attacks is important even if no piece is standing there yet.
  • Check is special because a king under attack must be rescued on the very next move.

Objectives

  • Capture by moving onto a square occupied by an enemy piece with a legal move pattern.
  • Spot attacked squares and notice when a king is in check.
  • Say the difference between a regular move and a move that checks the king.

Practice Tasks

  1. Write a short definition of a capture.
  2. Write a short definition of check.
  3. For each practice position, say whether the winning move was mainly a capture, a check, or both.

Board Walkthrough

Follow the lesson one board at a time. The teacher answer key includes the move list.

Board 1
Board 2
Board 3
Board 4
Board 5
Board 6
Board 7
Board 8

Practice Positions

Solve each position on paper first. Answers live only in the separate teacher/parent key.

Practice 1

Capture the knight on e5 with your queen. The capture also gives check.

Practice 2

Move onto the enemy knight's square and capture it safely.

Practice 3

Find the rook move that checks the black king.

Mini-Game

Play a few moves and say out loud when you are capturing something or giving check. If neither happens, say "quiet move."

Answer Key

Capturing and Check

Teacher/parent key for Worksheet: Capturing and Check.

Worksheet Answers

  1. Prompt: Write a short definition of a capture.

    A capture is when you move onto a square occupied by an enemy piece and remove it from the board.

  2. Prompt: Write a short definition of check.

    Check means the king is being attacked right now and must be dealt with immediately.

  3. Prompt: For each practice position, say whether the winning move was mainly a capture, a check, or both.

    Practice 1 is both a capture and a check. Practice 2 is a capture. Practice 3 is a check.

Model Line

  1. e4
  2. e5
  3. Bc4
  4. Nc6
  5. Qh5
  6. Nf6
  7. Qxf7+

Practice Position Solutions

Capturing and Check — Practice 1

Capture the knight on e5 with your queen. The capture also gives check.

Solution: Qxe5+

The queen lands on the enemy piece's square, removes it, and attacks the king down the e-file.

Capturing and Check — Practice 2

Move onto the enemy knight's square and capture it safely.

Solution: Qxa5

Capturing means taking the enemy piece off the board by moving onto its square.

Capturing and Check — Practice 3

Find the rook move that checks the black king.

Solution: Re4+

A king is in check when an enemy piece attacks its square. The rook on e4 attacks e8 in a straight line.