Three-check chess: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Chess variant where three checks end the game}} |
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'''Three-check chess''' is a [[chess variant]]; it plays with the same rules as [[chess]], with the addition that a player can win by putting their opponent in [[Check (chess)|check]] three times.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lichess.org/variant/threeCheck|title=Three-check • Check your opponent 3 times to win the game. • lichess.org|website=lichess.org|language=en|access-date=2018-07-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-play-variants-on-chess-com|title=Chess Variants {{!}} 5 Amazing Examples|last=|first=|date=|website=Chess.com|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2018-07-19}}</ref> [[Sacrifice (chess)|Sacrifices]] are common and the [[chess opening|opening]] can be filled with {{chessgloss|traps}}. Checking an opponent twice can create an advantage equivalent to captured {{chessgloss|material}} in the evaluation of a position. The game rarely reaches the [[Chess endgame|endgame]] and is usually decided before [[Queen (chess)|queens]] are traded. |
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'''Three-check chess,''' also simply known as '''three-check,''' is a [[chess variant]] where a player can win by placing their opponent in [[Check (chess)|check]] three times. Apart from this, standard rules of chess apply, including starting position and other ending conditions, such as [[stalemate]] and [[checkmate]]. A move is considered to give one check if the [[King (chess)|king]] is threatened, regardless if [[Double check|multiple pieces are checking]] the king.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Three-check • Check your opponent 3 times to win the game. • lichess.org |url=https://lichess.org/variant/threeCheck |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=lichess.org}}</ref><ref name="chess.com3check">{{cite web |title=Chess Variants {{!}} 5 Amazing Examples |url=https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-play-variants-on-chess-com |access-date=2018-07-19 |website=Chess.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Teaching Chess the Easy and Fun Way with Mini-Games - UIL |url=http://www.uiltexas.org/files/capitalconference/Randolph-TeachingChesstheEasyFunWaywithMiniGames.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327090603/http://www.uiltexas.org/files/capitalconference/Randolph-TeachingChesstheEasyFunWaywithMiniGames.pdf |archive-date=2014-03-27 |access-date=30 July 2018 |website=Teaching Chess the Easy and Fun Way with Mini-Games}}</ref> Three check can be played over the board, but it is also popular on internet chess servers such as [[Chess.com]] and [[Lichess]]. |
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It is catalogued in [[David Pritchard (chess player)|David Pritchard]]'s ''The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants'' where it is noted as being of probable Soviet origin, and that [[Anatoly Karpov]] was an "invincible" player in his youth. |
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<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last=Pritchard |first=D. B. |authorlink=David Pritchard (chess player) |title=The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants |publisher=Games & Puzzles Publications |year=1994 |page=304 |quote=Probably of Soviet origin. The first player to deliver three checks wins. Said to be very skilful: two checks can be achieved fairly easily at the expense of piece sacrifices after which the prospects of a third check with severely weakened forces are close to zero. Karpov is said to have been invincible at the game in his youth. |isbn=0-9524142-0-1}}</ref> |
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{{AN chess|pos=toc}} |
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==Example game== |
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'''1. e4 e6 2. d4{{chesspunc|??}}''' |
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:This typical opening in standard chess quickly loses in Three-check chess. |
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'''2... Bb4+''' |
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:First check. |
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== History == |
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'''3. c3 Bxc3+{{chesspunc|!}}''' |
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It is unknown specifically where three-check chess originated, but [[David Pritchard (chess player)|David Pritchard]], author of ''The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants'', suspected Soviet origin, and noted that [[Anatoly Karpov]] was an "invincible" player of three-check chess in his youth.{{sfnp|Pritchard|1994|p=304}}{{sfnp|Pritchard|2007|p=83}} On [[Lichess]], the three-check world championship is hosted yearly.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-07 |title=3+ World Championship team |url=https://lichess.org/team/3-world-championship |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=lichess.org |language=en-US}}</ref> Other strong players who have played three-check include grandmasters [[Maxime Vachier-Lagrave]] and [[Sergei Zhigalko]]. |
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:Second check. |
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'''4. Nxc3 Qh4! {{chessAN|0–1}}''' |
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|tleft |
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|rd|nd|bd| |kd| |nd|rd |
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|pd|pd|pd|pd| |pd|pd|pd |
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| | | | |pd| | | |
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| | | |pl|pl| | |qd |
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| | |nl| | | | | |
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|pl|pl| | | |pl|pl|pl |
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|rl| |bl|ql|kl|bl|nl|rl |
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|Final position after 4...Qh4 |
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}} |
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{{clear}} |
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:White {{chessgloss|resign|resigned}}. There is no way to prevent a third check by ...Qxf2+ or ...Qxe4+. |
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== |
== Strategy == |
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Given that the game is quickly completed, and often not decided by checkmate, three-check players will frequently sacrifice pieces if they are guaranteed to achieve one or multiple checks on the king. Opening diagonals towards the king is inadvisable – 1. d4? allows the immediate 1... e5! taking advantage of white's dark-squared weaknesses upon the a5-e1 diagonal. |
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[[Chess.com]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/article/view/3-check-chess-tips-for-beginners|title=3-Check Chess Tips For Beginners|last=Rensch|first=Daniel|date=9 September 2016|website=Chess.com|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref> [[Internet Chess Club]], and [[Lichess]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lichess.org/variant/threeCheck|title=Three-check • Check your opponent 3 times to win the game. • lichess.org|website=lichess.org|language=en|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref> each support online games of Three-check chess. [[ChessV]] allows for games against a computer opponent. [[Shane's Chess Information Database]] includes information relating to Three-check chess. |
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International Master [[Daniel Rensch]] has written for Chess.com on strategical and tactical opportunities to be wary of while playing three-check:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rensch (DanielRensch) |first=Daniel |date=2019-11-04 |title=3-Check Chess Tips For Beginners |url=https://www.chess.com/article/view/3-check-chess-tips-for-beginners |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Chess.com |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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{{reflist|30em}} |
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* Keep the diagonals to one's own king closed. Rensch recommends the [[Sicilian Defence]], though warns of a deadly trap: 1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 Nc6?? 3. Bxf7+! Kxf7 4. Qh5+ and white delivers the third check on the next move. |
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* Remove one's own king from an open file - although Rensch does not consider files to be as dangerous as diagonals in three-check, he mentions that "open files are the quickest way for a winning position to become a lost one in three-check!" |
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* Never allow consecutive checks, even if it means gaining material. The initiative in three-check is extremely powerful, and it is common to sacrifice several pieces to achieve multiple checks. |
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* A queen is especially powerful, because with few exceptions it is always able to get at least two consecutive checks. The exceptions are: the queen can be captured immediately; the queen is absolutely [[Pin (chess)|pinned]] against its own king and the line of the pin has no square from which the queen can give a followup check; or a [[Cross-check (chess)|cross-check]] achieved by a [[discovered check]] where the moving piece blocks the original check, and the queen cannot block the check or capture the checking piece with check (including when the cross-check is the third check for that player, and when the blocking move also absolutely pins the queen). |
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<references /> |
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==Sources== |
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*{{cite book |
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|last=Pritchard |
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|first=D. B. |
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|author-link=David Pritchard (chess player) |
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|title=The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants |
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|publisher=Games & Puzzles Publications |
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|year=1994 |
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|isbn=0-9524142-0-1}} |
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*{{cite book |
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|last=Pritchard |
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|first=D. B. |
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|editor-last=Beasley |
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|editor-first=John |
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|title=The Classified Encyclopedia of Chess Variants |
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|publisher=John Beasley |
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|year=2007 |
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|isbn=978-0-9555168-0-1}} |
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{{Chess variants|state=collapsed}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Three Checks Chess}} |
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[[Category:Chess variants]] |
[[Category:Chess variants]] |
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Latest revision as of 09:16, 7 November 2024
Three-check chess, also simply known as three-check, is a chess variant where a player can win by placing their opponent in check three times. Apart from this, standard rules of chess apply, including starting position and other ending conditions, such as stalemate and checkmate. A move is considered to give one check if the king is threatened, regardless if multiple pieces are checking the king.[1][2][3] Three check can be played over the board, but it is also popular on internet chess servers such as Chess.com and Lichess.
History
[edit]It is unknown specifically where three-check chess originated, but David Pritchard, author of The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants, suspected Soviet origin, and noted that Anatoly Karpov was an "invincible" player of three-check chess in his youth.[4][5] On Lichess, the three-check world championship is hosted yearly.[6] Other strong players who have played three-check include grandmasters Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Sergei Zhigalko.
Strategy
[edit]Given that the game is quickly completed, and often not decided by checkmate, three-check players will frequently sacrifice pieces if they are guaranteed to achieve one or multiple checks on the king. Opening diagonals towards the king is inadvisable – 1. d4? allows the immediate 1... e5! taking advantage of white's dark-squared weaknesses upon the a5-e1 diagonal.
International Master Daniel Rensch has written for Chess.com on strategical and tactical opportunities to be wary of while playing three-check:[7]
- Keep the diagonals to one's own king closed. Rensch recommends the Sicilian Defence, though warns of a deadly trap: 1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 Nc6?? 3. Bxf7+! Kxf7 4. Qh5+ and white delivers the third check on the next move.
- Remove one's own king from an open file - although Rensch does not consider files to be as dangerous as diagonals in three-check, he mentions that "open files are the quickest way for a winning position to become a lost one in three-check!"
- Never allow consecutive checks, even if it means gaining material. The initiative in three-check is extremely powerful, and it is common to sacrifice several pieces to achieve multiple checks.
- A queen is especially powerful, because with few exceptions it is always able to get at least two consecutive checks. The exceptions are: the queen can be captured immediately; the queen is absolutely pinned against its own king and the line of the pin has no square from which the queen can give a followup check; or a cross-check achieved by a discovered check where the moving piece blocks the original check, and the queen cannot block the check or capture the checking piece with check (including when the cross-check is the third check for that player, and when the blocking move also absolutely pins the queen).
References
[edit]- ^ "Three-check • Check your opponent 3 times to win the game. • lichess.org". lichess.org. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
- ^ "Chess Variants | 5 Amazing Examples". Chess.com. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ "Teaching Chess the Easy and Fun Way with Mini-Games - UIL" (PDF). Teaching Chess the Easy and Fun Way with Mini-Games. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-03-27. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
- ^ Pritchard (1994), p. 304.
- ^ Pritchard (2007), p. 83.
- ^ "3+ World Championship team". lichess.org. 2023-11-07. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
- ^ Rensch (DanielRensch), Daniel (2019-11-04). "3-Check Chess Tips For Beginners". Chess.com. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
Sources
[edit]- Pritchard, D. B. (1994). The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants. Games & Puzzles Publications. ISBN 0-9524142-0-1.
- Pritchard, D. B. (2007). Beasley, John (ed.). The Classified Encyclopedia of Chess Variants. John Beasley. ISBN 978-0-9555168-0-1.