Having mastered the notation, the student should next familiarise himself with—
The Technical Terms used in the Game.
The more important of these are as under:
Check and Checkmate.—The whole object of the game is the capture of the opponent's King, though, as we have said, the King is never actually taken, the game coming to an end when the next move, if made, would result in his capture. If the King is attacked, the attack must be accompanied with the warning, "Check." A check may be met in three different ways. The player may either interpose one of his own pieces[[75]] (or pawns) between the King and the attacking piece; he may move it out of the range of the attacking piece; or he may take the attacking piece with the King or any other of his forces which may be available for that purpose. If he cannot resort to either of these three defences, he is checkmated, or more shortly, "mated," and the game is lost.
"Discovered" check is given when, by moving a piece, another piece is unmasked which attacks the adversary's King.
Drawn Game.—Beside the more decided issue of checkmate, there is another possible termination of a game—viz., the "drawn game," or "draw."
A draw ensues: 1. If neither side can give checkmate.
2. If both sides remain with King only, or with a single Bishop, or single Knight only in addition.
3. If both players repeat the same series of moves three times, thereby tacitly admitting that they are