Check (chess)

In chess and similar games, check is a condition that occurs when a player's king is under immediate threat of capture on the very next turn. A king so threatened is said to be in check, and the attacker traditionally warns their opponent by saying the word "check". A player must get out of check if possible by moving the king to an unattacked square, interposing a piece between the threatening piece and the king, or capturing the threatening piece. If the player cannot remove the check by any of these options, or if using any of these options would result in the player being in check by another piece, the game ends in checkmate and the player loses. Players cannot make any move that puts their own king in check.