Answering a check

Only ever three ways.

When your king is in check you must answer it immediately, and there are only ever three ways: MOVE the king to a safe square, BLOCK the check by interposing a piece on the line, or CAPTURE the piece giving check. If none is possible, it's checkmate. (You may not castle out of check, and you can never simply ignore it.)

In the diagram, the bishop on b6 checks the king down the long diagonal. There's no black-squared piece to block with and nothing can take the bishop — so here only the first option works: step the king off the diagonal.

The bishop checks along the a7–g1 diagonal. No block, no capture — the king must move.

Which of these is NOT a legal way to answer a check?

Answer the question to keep going!