Checkmate - Double Check

Any chess piece can attack

We're going basic here so we can catch the correct strategies at the beginning. If things are not clear, please feel free to comment.

We discussed the Discovered Check and how it could become so dangerous to the defender and we want to go into further detail here. The danger lies in the possibility of a double attack. The chess pieces move so differently, that many times a beginner will not catch on to what is happening until it happens. It may not be too late, but there are some ways to prevent this from happening if you look for it.

Your opponent may move a chess piece to get into position to attack an undefended chess piece and in moving will uncover a discovered check. There is how you get attacked from two different opponent chess pieces in one move. It can be difficult to get out of this situation, so it is best not to get into it.

If there is no time to defend, the check must be considered first. You must get the King out of check first since it will be the loss of the whole game if you do not. Not good.

The discovered check makes a very touchy situation. A double check is even worse. In this next diagram, we are putting a rook in between the Black King and the White Queen. The White Rook has moved into a position that reveals the White Queen giving check to the Black King.

The White Rook uncovered a discovered check by the Queen by moving to the left two squares. Now not only is the White Queen giving check, but the White Rook is also giving check. Can you see a way out? If not - you ARE in trouble!

Double Check

Here's some suggestions: Which one will work?
1. Position another chess piece in the middle of the attacks.
2. Capture one of the attacking chess pieces.
3. Move the King out of the path of the attack.

Answer:  We realize all the other chess pieces are not in position here and so at this time you can not tell which method will work. 

1. But usually your other chess pieces will not be able to get into position to prevent an attack unless you were watching for this discovered check move. 
2. If you capture one of the attacking chess pieces, that still leaves the other piece to attack. That will not work because you only have one move. 
3. The only answer to this puzzle is that you have to move the King out of check. If you can not do that then the game is lost.

This is only the third type of check:

• Checkmate
• Discovered Check
• Forked Check

Next we will cover the Forked Check.

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