"Perpetual check": explanation of terminology and other threats to the king in chess

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:45

In the well-known sports game, chess, there are a huge number of rules of various kinds and compositions. Their number includes "perpetual check". This is a rare composition of pieces on a chessboard that puts the king of one of the sides under constant threat. You can read more about this and other types of check in this article.

Some general information

To learn about the "perpetual check" without knowing the accepted rules in the game will be useless. Every game of chess aims to create a winning composition with the killing of the king. This occurs when a piece moving only 1 square in any direction has no options for escape. Such a composition is called "mate" and it leads to victory. If there is a threat to the king, but it can be avoided, then this means a check. Since this game has thousands of different combinations, there was a place in it for the definition of "perpetual check". It happens extremely rarely in professional games, because opponents are trying in every possible way to prevent such a situation.

Positions

Perpetual Check is the way tothe declaration of a draw, because positions oblige this. It all starts with the opponent making a standard threat to the king of one of the teams. The second avoids it, but the next move the opponent repeats it again. A cyclical action is created from constant checks and the departure of the king from them. At a certain point in time, users will begin to repeat moves. Only a person who regularly threatens the enemy's king can change this. If this does not happen, then after three repetitions of moves, one of the opponents may demand a draw in this game. Most likely, this will be a person in a losing situation, forced to fight back with all his might. The "perpetual check" in chess is rare for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is extremely difficult to achieve such a position of the figures. Secondly, the side with the worst situation on the field is trying to resort to it, but the professionals are aware of this and do not allow such an outcome of events. It should be noted that there are situations when the "Perpetual Check" is placed with one piece.

How to act in case of check

A "perpetual check" in chess is a deliberate action to get out of a losing position into a draw. This is also used to capture the advantage in some situations. In order to prevent such a state of affairs on the board, one should know the rules for protecting the king from a threat. The simplest option is to move the figure to an empty cell, where it will not be. In this case, the "perpetual check" most often appears, when each transition is accompanied by regular pursuit. To do this, the field must be free from other shapes and the space aroundking. The second way is to cover the commander in chief on the battlefield with another fighter. It will not always be profitable to beat her, and therefore the threat will be neutralized. This method does not work if the check places the knight of the enemy team. It is important to know that castling in case of a threat to the king is prohibited. The third way to eliminate danger is to kill the figure from which it comes. This is possible if a new check does not open automatically after that.

Second method of creating danger

Perpetual check is not the only interesting combination in the game. There is also a "revealed check", which is much more common on the battlefield. For its appearance, it is necessary to have allied pieces standing behind each other. The team player does not see a threat to the king, since she is not in the forefront. Then the enemy makes a move with the front squad, opening an attack on the second line. This only works with Bishop, Queen and Rook. This situation is created when a pawn is killed by the same enemy piece on the aisle, after which the king is open for a step. This composition is interesting from a tactical point of view. The player moves the first piece, creating a "revealed check". At the same time, the king is forced to defend himself. At this time, the detachment that has liberated the zone for attack can go on the offensive. It can only be taken by the king in the move, but this happens extremely rarely. There is room to eliminate another important piece from the opponent's board, for this, an “opened check” is most often created.

Another variety

"Double check" is a variation of the above composition of pieces. Such a concept is used if, together with the opened piece, the fighter making a move at that moment also creates a threat. "Double check" is especially dangerous, because it will certainly lead to losses. It is impossible to take a figure from which danger emanates, and it is also impossible to hide behind your troops, because attacks are carried out from two fronts. Two bishops and two knights cannot declare "double check". The threat must come from a straight line and a diagonal, or with the participation of the knight along with one line. Pawns can participate in creating such a combination if they stand on the last rank, turning into one of the pieces. At the same time, they release the front of attack to another detachment and create danger from two sides. Creating such a combination requires a lot of effort. The opponent should not see a hidden threat from the second piece with an open king.