Double check puzzles
Two pieces give check at the same time, so the only legal reply is to move the king.
About double check puzzles
Two pieces give check at the same time, so the only legal reply is to move the king. A double check often leads straight to mate.
How to spot it
- Look for a discovered check where the moving piece also gives check.
- In a double check you cannot block or capture, so count the squares the king can reach.
- Double checks often come after a queen sacrifice that opens the king.
A common mistake
Trying to block or capture. After a double check only the king can move.
A worked example
K
RR
Q
B
N
N
Q
B
R
KRBlack to move. White has just played Nc4. Find the best move.
Solution: 24... Ne2+ 25. Kh1 Nxg3+
Ne2+ checks the king and also attacks the queen on g3, so your opponent has to answer the check. The idea: Two pieces give check at the same time, so the only legal reply is to move the king.
The highlighted squares show White's last move. This position is a different puzzle from the ones you start with above (1134 rating).
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Questions
Why can't you block a double check?
You can only capture or block one checking piece per move, and the other check remains. So the only legal reply is a king move.
Where do these puzzles come from?
They are real puzzles from the Lichess puzzle database, which is free to use under the CC0 license. Each one was built from a real game and tested by many players. We picked well-rated ones with good popularity scores.
Are the puzzles free?
Yes. There is no signup, no limit and no ads on the puzzles. Your progress on this page is not saved after you leave.
What do the difficulty levels mean?
Beginner puzzles are rated under 1250, intermediate 1250 to 1749 and advanced 1750 and up, using the rating Lichess players earned on each puzzle.