Check happens when a king is attacked by one or more enemy pieces. It is not the end of the game, but the player in check must deal with it on the very next move. No other move is allowed.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
1.
Three ways to get out of check
- Move the king to a square that is not attacked.
- Block the attack with another piece (impossible if the checking piece is a knight or is right next to the king).
- Capture the piece giving check.
If none of these is possible, it is no longer just check. It is checkmate.
In notation, check is written with a +, as in Ra8+.
