VI

I now resume the easy lessons by giving a list of Technical Terms.

Adverse Piece, Adverse Pawn.—An “adverse piece” is a piece of an opposite colour to your own, and, of course, belongs to your adversary. Similarly, an “adverse Pawn” is a Pawn of an opposite colour to your own.

Attack.—The combined action of several men against an adverse position. Attacks, of course, are generally made directly against the King, but occasionally they are directed against some weak point in the enemy’s position apart from the King.

To Attack: Attacked.—A piece or Pawn attacks an adverse man when it threatens to capture it on the move. A piece or Pawn is said to be “attacked” when it is threatened with capture on the move by an adverse man.

Castling.—This combined move of K and R I have fully described previously.

Check.—This term signifies that the King is attacked by an adverse piece or Pawn. It is one of the very fundamental principles of the game that the King cannot be captured, and therefore when a move is made by which he is attacked, notice thereof must be given by audibly saying “Check.” The King is now said to be “checked,” or “in check,” and this check must be at once parried. There are three methods by which this can be done:—

  1. By moving the King on to a square not commanded by any of the adverse men.
  2. By interposing a man between the attacking piece and the King.
  3. By capturing the attacking man.

There are three descriptions of checks:—

  1. The “direct check,” which is given by a piece or Pawn directly attacking the King.
  2. The “discovered check,” or “check by discovery,” which is given by a piece, which, whilst it does not attack the King directly, yet by its removal, uncovers an attack from another piece.
  3. “Double check,” which is a combination of the “direct check” and the “discovered check.” This is brought about by a piece directly attacking the King and at the same time uncovering an attack from another piece.

This last is the most dangerous form of all the checks, for it cannot be parried either by interposition or capturing. The available defences of the King are therefore greatly lessened, as he must move to get out of check.