put the question to
verb1
Board games, Chess, Games To threaten a piece (especially, to threaten a developed bishop by moving a pawn to the third or sixth rank), in such a way that it forces the opponent to make a deeper strategic decision whether to sacrifice the piece.
- I put the question to the Rook, both to commit it away from the open d-file and to prevent c4-c5.1991 January/February, Selby Anderson, Texas Knights, volume 32, number 3, archived from the original on 23 Apr 2025, page 16:
- White can also put the question to the c4-pawn with 9.b3 before deciding about the capture a4xb51997, Angus Dunnington, Winning with the Catalan:
1 more example
- Here it was good to put the question to the bishop with 12.h3, to sound out Black's intentions, because it seems that if he takes on f3 White stands better2016 October 15, Alfonso Romero Holmes, Oscar de Prado, The Agile London System: A Solid but Dynamic Chess Opening Choice for White, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 41: