Check and checkmate in chess. What is checkmate and how to put check or checkmate?

Attention to chess attracted a long time. It's not just a game of intellectuals. It combines creativity and mathematics, logic and non-standard approach to solving situations.

So, let's see how it all began.

The history of the game

The unusual word "chaturanga". Few people heard it today. In fact, this is the name of the game in ancient India, which became the progenitor of chess. It was played by the four of us, and everyone had only eight figures. Raja (king), chariot (rook), cavalry, elephant and four pawns. The colors were just as different from the modern ones. On the board were red, green, yellow and black statuettes. It's not easy to put a check on the checkmate!

There was, however, an option for two players. By the number and arrangement of figures, he exactly corresponds to chess today.

The second version of the origin is Byzantine. In the Middle Ages, the Roman nobility was entertained in Zatrykion. Two opponents, 16 figures each. Like, everything, as now ... But not all so is simple! The board was round! Sixteen fields on the outer circle and four - on the width of the game ring.

In the Russian Empire in the XVIII-XIX centuries. Chess was popular for four players with fortresses. 76 figures, 192 squares and a twenty-cornered board!

Today there are fields in the form of a cylinder and a torus (a bagel). You can put check and checkmate, going around behind!

And the modification of this amusement, invented in 1948, is supplemented with rules of checkers and is called shashmaty. You can walk only on black cells, and each participant has 8 pawns, 2 kings, 1 elephant and 1 camel (another name is a nanny, the same as a horse in standard chess).

The "combat" version of the game assumes the following. The board is divided horizontally into two halves, and the opponents place the troops secretly from each other. Further it is collected in one whole and continues by usual rules.

What is a shah

So, back to the standard field. The goal of the game is to destroy the king of the second side. So, the attack on him is a shah. If the enemy was able to defend himself or avoid him, the struggle continues.

Let's look at an example. The figure shows this position: a white elephant attacks the black king.

The chess in chess is of several kinds:

Eternal (as soon as the player walks away from the threat, the next move he is again under the fight).

This way of attack very much lengthens the time of the game, almost up to several hours. However, on the other hand, the losing player is very profitable. You can make a repeating move three times and, if the player wants, a draw will be declared.

Hidden (the figure, which until then, was hidden by another of the same color, that is, one left, the second attacked).

A fairly common type of attack. Its charm lies in the fact that when you create a suitable arrangement on the board, you can pick up one of the enemy's fighters, and the enemy king will be under attack. The next step of the opponent will also be a plus for you, as he will have to defend himself, and not attack and develop the position.

Cross (closed from the threat, you are in the same response themselves attack the enemy king).

A very common response to the previously unreasoned for all the details of the previous version. Often, beginners have a situation when the opponent seems to be "gaping". A stunning figure stands under the battle, or the shah begs. If it seemed to you that the situation is entirely in your favor, and everything is running smoothly, stop and look at the board from a different angle. Perhaps you head proudly to your own defeat, directly into the trap set.

What is a mate

This is not the abuse of the defeated side, but simply a word similar in sound. In Persian it means "helpless, immobilized", and in Arabic - "died."
Your king is attacked, but there is nowhere to run, there is nothing to beat and to close in any way? That's what happened. Everything, checkmate, which means "end of the game".

The main task is to prevent such a turn of events at any cost. It can turn out to be a draw, create a stalemate. But it is better to understand in detail all the subtleties of the game and conduct the very position on the board.
Analyze the parties on the records, disassemble the decisions of grandmasters at the world championships. Learn, finally, than the debut differs from the middlegame!

This amazing game is so diverse and multifaceted that when you become friends with it, you will begin to change for the better. Even if now everything is not as good as we would like.

Well, nothing, soon so master the strategy and tactics that you can fight with several opponents at once!

And now let's analyze the main options for victory.

Mat Queen

One of the first two sketches for beginners. We are able to walk, we have learned how to record parties. It's time to put the first mate in greenhouse conditions. And that, training is necessary. Hard in teaching, it's easy to fight.

We carefully consider the composition. A great combination for beginners. Solves elementary, wherever the figures are. The white king stands on A1, and the next move the black queen attacks him, moving on A3. Can I close or beat the attacker? And to escape from a blow? A difficult situation. The game is over, and the loser has to dismantle the game by recording and analyze the mistakes made.

Mat elephants

Also a fairly common variation of victory. One or two officers can play a key role in the battle. And if the enemy still shortsightedly leaves the flanks open, it is a sin not to take advantage of the moment. Shah and mate, gentlemen.

Note that the stronger figures did not actually move. Cavalry with elephants did all the work! It happens in parties, when players are carried away by some strategic ideas. Imagine yesterday you were debating Capablanca's debut, and today the rival goes so that it becomes possible to implement it. Beauty!

Mat rook

Classical composition for beginners. One or two rooks, two kings and an empty board. One of the first sketches, with which you will get acquainted in the process of mastering this beautiful strategy. The White King holds a G7 and H7 blow, the round attacks on the eighth line. "Finita la comedy."

Mat with an elephant and a horse

More complicated problem. Cavalry goes by the letter "G", the officer - only on the diagonal of one color, in our case - white. The black king can run long enough from such a company until he is cornered. And there are already three for one.

Such moments, of course, happen in the usual game, but more often it happens in sketches. Start with short examples, work through all the variants of events. Later move to a more complex level, add shapes. Decisions will be hid not in three moves, but in seven. We develop combinatorics, pull up observation. It's only begining!

Math King and Pawn

Another element of the composition. Even if there is no rival, and you just master the basics. Take a couple of tasks, a board and a set of figures. Try to record the parts for further analysis.

In our case, there are several developments of the plot. Mat in chess is put in this way by pawns or, if one of them reaches the last horizontal, one of the previous ways.

You can choose any piece instead of a pawn.
So, today we have got acquainted with the history of a terrific chess game, we looked at the basic etudes. Understood with such concepts as checkmate and checkmate.

But this is only the first step. We have not even entered the threshold of this magical palace. Ahead of you still waiting for the joy of the greatest victories and the grief of irreversible defeats. Happy tears of the champion of the country or the world, the proud title of grandmaster.

How to know if you get infected with prospects, perhaps you will begin to develop and carry the idea to the masses. Logical thinking will become flexible, and an attentive look - tenacious.
The versatility of the world of chess is breathtaking and fascinating with perspectives. As the classic said, Moscow will be renamed to New Vasyuki, and Vasyuki to Old Moscow.

The rest is a matter of practice. Good luck, dear readers!