Flight square

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Image:chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 rd f8 g8 h8 Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 xx e6 f6 xx g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 xx e5 kl f5 xx g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 xx e4 f4 xx g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
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Flight squares are marked with an X.

In chess, a flight square or escape square is a safe place or a square to which a King can move if it is threatened.

One way to get a king out of check is to move to a flight square on the next move. (The other ways to get out of check are to capture the checking piece or to interpose a piece to block the check.) If the checked king has no flight square and there is no other way to get out of check, it is checkmate.

One way to win material from an opponent (that is to say, end up with more pieces or more valuable pieces left on the board) is to dominate a piece by removing all of its flight squares (through attacking or occupying them), then threatening to capture it.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Brace, Edward R. (1977), An Illustrated Dictionary of Chess, Hamlyn Publishing Group, ISBN 1-55521-394-4