A Check is the most immediate threat in chess. It is a direct attack on the King. Because the King cannot be captured, the player must use their very next turn to move the King out of danger.
Discovered Check: This is one of the most dangerous weapons. It happens when you move a piece that was blocking your own long-range piece (Rook, Bishop, or Queen), suddenly revealing an attack on the King.
In Task 2, you'll see how a Knight sitting in front of a Rook can jump away. The Knight itself doesn't attack the King, but it "discovers" the Rook's path to the King. This is often deadly because the Knight is now free to attack something else while the opponent is forced to save their King!
Beyond the physical threat, a check is a powerful **tempo-gainer**. When you give check, you seize the "initiative." Your opponent is stripped of their free will for one move; they cannot continue their own attack or execute their plan because the rules force them to respond to your threat. Effective players use checks to reorganize their pieces or drive the enemy King into a worse position while the opponent is busy escaping.