Example 1 · Spot a free capture
A rook finds a loose bishop
White to move
Attacker: White rook on a1. Target: Black bishop on a7.
Teaching move: Rxa7. Nothing guards the bishop on a7. The rook can travel straight up the a-file and capture it.
Beginner Chess · Week 1
Student Handout · Assessment + Piece Safety
Today you will find out what you already know—and build a simple habit that helps you stop losing pieces.
1. What is piece safety?
A chess piece is under attack when an opponent’s piece could capture it. A piece is unprotected if no friendly piece guards it. A hanging piece is attacked and unprotected. When you spot one, check whether you can capture it safely.
A piece may be under attack and still be defended. Do not grab a protected piece without looking at the opponent’s reply. Your king is special: you may never leave it in check.
The SAFE scan — before every move: See your opponent’s last threat. Ask what is attacked. Find defenders and safe squares. Evaluate the reply: “What can they capture after my move?”
2. Ten worked examples
Study each board with your coach. On every board, try to name the attacker, the target and the safe action.
Example 2 · Spot a free capture
The knight jumps to a rook
White to move
Attacker: White knight on e4. Target: Black rook on f6.
Teaching move: Nxf6. Knights jump in an L shape. The rook on f6 is unprotected, so Nxf6 safely wins it.
Example 3 · Defend a piece
A small pawn can guard a bishop
White to move
Attacker: Black rook on d8. Target: White bishop on d4.
Teaching move: c3. The rook threatens to capture on d4. Moving c2–c3 puts the pawn on c3, where it protects the bishop on d4.
Example 4 · Move away
Move your queen out of danger
White to move
Attacker: Black knight on f6. Target: White queen on h5.
Teaching move: Qe2. The knight attacks h5. Qe2 is a safe diagonal retreat; a queen is far too valuable to leave under attack.
Example 5 · Check the reply
Do not snatch a protected bishop
White to move
Attacker: Black bishop on g7. Target: White queen on d4.
Teaching move: Qe3. The bishop on g7 attacks the queen along the diagonal. Qe3 steps aside. Qxg7? would lose the queen to Kxg7.
Example 6 · Capture the attacker
Capture the piece doing the attacking
White to move
Attacker: Black knight on d6. Target: White bishop on c4.
Teaching move: exd6. The knight is ready to take the bishop. The pawn on e5 can capture that knight first: exd6.
Example 7 · Count the defenders
A defended knight is not free
Black to move
Attacker: Black queen on c7. Target: White knight on c4.
Why the capture is a mistake. The queen attacks the knight on c4, but White’s pawn on b3 guards c4. After Qxc4? bxc4, Black loses the queen.
Example 8 · Switch sides
Black can win loose pieces too
Black to move
Attacker: Black bishop on b7. Target: White rook on e4.
Teaching move: Bxe4. The bishop sees the rook along b7–c6–d5–e4. With no defender on e4, Bxe4 wins the rook.
Example 9 · Capture the attacker
Save your queen by capturing the threat
White to move
Attacker: Black knight on d4. Target: White queen on f3.
Teaching move: cxd4. The knight attacks the queen, but the pawn on c3 already attacks that knight. cxd4 removes the threat and wins the knight.
Example 10 · Think one move ahead
Look at the landing square first
White to move
Attacker: Black pawn on d6 (defends e5). Target: White knight on f3.
Teaching move: Nd2. Nxe5? would lose the knight to ...dxe5 because the black d6-pawn protects e5. Nd2 keeps the knight safe.
3. Your piece-safety checklist
- King first: Am I in check? Would my move leave my king in check?
- Look both ways: Which of my pieces and their pieces are attacked?
- Count guards: Is the target protected by another piece or pawn?
- Pick a safe action: Capture the attacker, move away, add a defender, or capture a loose piece.
- One more question: After I move, what can my opponent take?
4. Your ten exercises
Write the move or tell your coach. You can reveal a hint, but the answers are not in this file.
Exercise 1 · Free capture · rook
The rook’s straight path
White to move
Task: Find the rook move that captures an unprotected bishop.
Look along the b-file.
Your move: ____________________
Exercise 2 · Free capture · bishop
A diagonal treasure
White to move
Task: Find the bishop move that captures a loose rook.
Trace the diagonal from c4.
Your move: ____________________
Exercise 3 · Free capture · Black
Black’s turn to collect
Black to move
Task: Black to move: capture White’s undefended bishop.
A rook can travel along its file.
Your move: ____________________
Exercise 4 · Pawn capture
A pawn can take a knight
White to move
Task: Use your pawn to capture the black knight.
White pawns capture one square diagonally forward.
Your move: ____________________
Exercise 5 · Queen safety
Rescue the queen
White to move
Task: The black knight attacks your queen. Find a safe diagonal retreat to the first rank.
Trace the long diagonal from g4 toward your back rank.
Your move: ____________________
Exercise 6 · Capture the attacker
Remove the attacker
White to move
Task: The bishop attacks your rook. Capture the bishop with your knight.
Can your knight jump onto the bishop’s square?
Your move: ____________________
Exercise 7 · Defending
Guard your bishop
White to move
Task: The rook attacks your bishop. Protect the bishop with a pawn move without moving the bishop.
Which pawn could move so that it guards c4?
Your move: ____________________
Exercise 8 · Capture · Black
Black wins a rook
Black to move
Task: Black to move: capture White’s loose rook.
Follow the black queen’s open file.
Your move: ____________________
Exercise 9 · King safety
Get out of check
White to move
Task: Your king is in check from a knight! Capture the checking piece.
Which of your pawns can take on f3?
Your move: ____________________
Exercise 10 · Capture with check
Queen versus rook
White to move
Task: Your queen is attacked by a rook on the same file. Capture that rook with check.
Your queen also moves straight along files. Is anything between d4 and d8?
Your move: ____________________
5. Fast review / exit ticket
- What does it mean if a piece is under attack?
- How is an unprotected piece different from a hanging piece?
- Name two ways to save an attacked piece.
- What is the first thing to check if your king is in danger?
- Say the SAFE scan aloud before one practice move.
Finish: Before your next move in a real game, remember: See, Ask, Find, Evaluate.