Man in check with a pawn (4)
I believe the answer is:
chap
'man' is the definition.
(term for a man)
'check with a pawn' is the wordplay.
'check' becomes 'ch' (abbreviation).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'pawn' becomes 'p'.
'ch'+'a'+'p'='CHAP'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for chap that I've seen before include "Sore; cheek; man" , "Cracked skin patch caused by cold" , "Raw, cracked patch on skin" , "Man; (of skin) turn sore" , "Man, boy, fellow" .)