Chess Attacks - Discovered Check

A discovered check, or discovered attack can become your worst nightmare. You need to be aware of this kind of checkmate position. Plan your strategy early to avoid being stumped by this chess play.

Discovered check is a check that is revealed when one chess piece moves out of the way of another chess piece. The chess piece revealed is the one "in check." That means that your opponent's revealed chess piece can checkmate your King. Of course that is a good move for your opponent, and a better one if YOU use this chess tactic.

Wikipedia defines discovered check: "an attack revealed when one piece moves out of the way of another." A discovered check is also called an uncovered check. It can operate from different principles than a basic chess checkmate, as seen in the chess King moves.

1) White Knight Shielding White King

Let's see if we can explain this move with examples. Remember a check is effective when one chess piece moves into the right square, the right position to "give check." In our previous diagram in Chess Checkmate, the White King is shielded from a check from the Black Queen by the White Knight as shown in diagram 1.

In the next diagram, the check is stopped by the White Bishop capturing the Black Queen.

2) Check is stopped by White Bishop

There, of course, is not any danger from the Queen now because she is captured and is out of the game.

3) White Pawn Covers Queens Check

Now we can put the White Queen in a position for a discovered check in the third diagram. Queens are so good at checkmate due to their versatile moves. Make sure you develop a good strategy for the opponents Queen so she does not surprise you.

In the third diagram the pawn is right in between the White Queen on the lower left corner, and the Black King in the upper right area on the board. There is a diagonal line of attack that when the pawn moves, the Queen would be in position for the check.

When the White Pawn moves ahead one square, the Queen's position for an attack is revealed (the discovered check.) The Black King is open for an attack to be made on him by the chess Queen moves. 

Next we will find out what makes a discovered check so dangerous to the defense position. In this chess tactic, if he is not protected, the King will find himself in a checkmated position.

See also 3 other kinds of Checks:
Check
Double Check
Forked Check







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