Expert: Tony D'Aloisio - 1/26/2008

Question
Can a King place a another King in Chech?

Answer
No, not directly (since a King can never legally move onto a square next to the opposing King).  It is possible though for a King to give check indirectly--by moving out of the way of a piece which can then give check.  It is called a "discovered check."  It happens rarely, but it is possible (and legal).

Here's a commonly used notation system so I can give you an illustration.  For the rows of squares going up the board away from you, number them from 1 to 8--and for the rows of squares as you move across the board, letter them from a to h (thus, a1 is where one of the white Rooks starts the game, and h1 is where the other one is posted; a8 and h8 are correspondingly where the black Rooks stand to begin play).  Now place (on an empty board) a white Rook on a1, the white King on a2, and the black King on a4.  Here both K to a3 and K to b3 are illegal moves for white (since they put him in check to the black King)--but white can play either K to b2 or K to b1, both of which uncover a check from the white Rook to the black King.  Either one is a discovered check.