Definition

Noun: 1. A chess tactic: A discovered check is a move in chess where a player moves one of their own pieces, which in turn reveals an attack (a "check") on the opponent's king from a different piece (a queen, rook, or bishop) that was behind it. It is a powerful tactic because it delivers a check while simultaneously developing another threat with the moved piece.

Usage

• Discovered check is a specific chess term. It is used as a countable noun to describe the move or the tactical situation itself.
• Example: "He won the game with a brilliant discovered check that also captured my queen."

Examples

• "The knight moved, giving a discovered check from the bishop on the long diagonal."
• "Be careful of potential discovered checks when your pieces are lined up."
• "Her most devastating tactic was a discovered check that forked my king and rook."

Advanced Usage

• Double check: A specific and even more powerful type of discovered check where the piece that moves also gives check. This results in the opponent's king being attacked by two pieces simultaneously.
  • Example: "Moving the knight created a devastating double check, forcing the king to move."

Variants and Related Words

• Discover (verb): In chess, to "discover" an attack means to unmask it by moving an intervening piece.
  • Example: "He discovered an attack on the queen with his knight move."
• Check (noun): A direct attack on the king.
• Fork (noun): A tactic where a single piece attacks two or more opponent pieces at the same time. A discovered check can often include a fork with the moved piece.

Synonyms

• Revealed check: A less common but accurate synonym for discovered check.

Related Phrases & Strategy

• To deliver a discovered check: The act of executing this tactic.
  • Example: "The goal of the combination was to deliver a discovered check."
• To be vulnerable to a discovered check: A positional description.
  • Example: "Your king is vulnerable to a discovered check because your rook and bishop are on the same line."

Noun

1. a check on the opponent's king that is delivered by moving a piece out of the line of attack by a queen or rook or bishop