Worksheet: Checks, Captures, and Threats

Before every move, scan the board for checks, captures, and threats ("CCT") - the three most forcing kinds of moves.

Why This Matters

• "CCT" is a simple scan you can do before every move: are there any checks, captures, or threats available?
• Checks and captures are easy to spot. Threats are trickier - they attack something without taking it yet.
• Strong players use this scan on every move, for both sides, before deciding what to play.

Practice Tasks

1. Write the definitions of check, capture, and threat in your own words.
2. In the mini-game position, name one square a threatening move could target.
3. Solve the three CCT practice positions and label each one check, capture, or threat.

Board Evolution (One Step per Board)

Practice Positions

Find each move on paper, then check the Answer Key at the end.

Mini-Game

Play this position with a partner. On each turn, say out loud whether your move is a check, a capture, a threat, or none of those.

Answer Key

1. Check: attacks the king. Capture: takes an enemy piece. Threat: attacks a piece or square without capturing yet.
2. Answers will vary - accept any reasonable undefended target.
3. Position 1: check (Re4+). Position 2: capture (Qxa5). Position 3: threat (Ra1).

Practice Position Solutions

1. Practice 1: Re4+ — Moving the rook onto the e-file lines it up with the black king with nothing in between - that is a check.
2. Practice 2: Qxa5 — The knight on a5 has no defender, so the queen can capture it for free - a clean capture.
3. Practice 3: Ra1 — Moving the rook to the open a-file attacks the undefended black queen. Black must move the queen or lose it next turn - that is a threat.