Perpetual Check
An endless series of checks that forces a draw when the game would otherwise be lost.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: Perpetual check is the great equalizer in chess. You might be down a queen, two rooks, and all hope, but if you can give an endless series of checks, the game is drawn. I have seen players with enormous material advantages throw their hands up in frustration because the opponent found a perpetual check and escaped with half a point. It teaches a vital chess lesson: the game is never truly over until it is over. Always look for perpetual check when your position seems hopeless.
Understanding Perpetual Check
Perpetual check occurs when a player can give an infinite series of checks that the opponent cannot escape. The position repeats (the same checks are given over and over), and the game is drawn by threefold repetition — a rule that declares the game a draw when the same position occurs three times.
The typical scenario involves a queen (or sometimes a rook or knight) that bounces back and forth between checking squares. The enemy king is forced to shuttle between two or three squares, unable to find shelter from the checks. Neither side can make progress, so the game is drawn.
Perpetual check is one of the most important defensive resources in chess. When you are losing — down significant material with no attacking chances — finding a perpetual check can save the game. Many seemingly hopeless positions contain a hidden perpetual check that transforms a loss into a draw.
The concept is deeply connected to the idea of a "fortress" in chess — a position where the weaker side can hold a draw despite being behind in material. But while a fortress is passive (you sit and let the opponent try to break through), perpetual check is active (you force the draw by giving checks). This makes it a more reliable drawing mechanism, because the opponent cannot avoid it.
When Perpetual Check Saves the Game
Perpetual check most commonly saves games in the following situations.
After a failed attack, you may have sacrificed material for an assault on the enemy king, but the attack fell short of checkmate. If your remaining pieces can give perpetual check, you salvage a draw instead of losing with a material deficit. Many gambits and sacrificial attacks have this as a safety net — the worst case is a draw by perpetual.
In the endgame, when your opponent has a significant material advantage and is about to promote a pawn, perpetual check can sometimes prevent the promotion. Your queen or rook chases the king back and forth, never allowing the opponent a free move to promote or consolidate their advantage.
In tactical complications, when both sides have launched attacks and the position is unclear, one side may discover that rather than continuing to fight for a win (with risk of losing), they can force a draw through perpetual check. This is a practical decision: when the position is dangerous and unclear, a guaranteed draw is often the best outcome.
Perpetual check can also arise from a desperate sacrifice. You might give up your queen specifically to create a position where your remaining piece (a knight, for instance) can give perpetual check. These spectacular saves are among the most satisfying moments in chess.
A Typical Perpetual Check Pattern
The most common perpetual check patterns involve a queen checking the king from two alternating squares. The king cannot escape the check pattern because all the escape squares lead back to positions the queen can check again.
Consider a classic scenario: the Black king is on g8 with pawns on f7, g7, and h7. A White queen on the h-file can check on h8, forcing the king to f8 or g8. If the king goes to f8, the queen checks on h8 or e8. The king returns to g8, and the queen checks on h8 again. The position repeats endlessly.
Another common pattern involves checking along a diagonal. A queen on h7 gives check, the king goes to f8, the queen checks on h8, the king goes back to e7, and the queen returns to h7. The triangle of squares repeats.
In the position shown, visualize how a queen might create such a checking pattern. The key is that the king has no square where it is free from further checks. Every square the king moves to allows another check from the queen.
Practice identifying perpetual check resources in your games. When your position is losing, your first instinct should be to check whether a series of checks can force a draw. Sometimes the perpetual is obvious; sometimes it requires a surprising sacrifice to set it up.
The queen can often create a perpetual check pattern by alternating between two or three checking squares.
Common Questions About Perpetual Check
Is perpetual check a specific rule in chess?
Perpetual check itself is not a formal rule. The draw occurs under the threefold repetition rule: when the same position appears three times (with the same player to move), either player can claim a draw. Perpetual check forces this repetition because the checking pattern repeats indefinitely.
Can any piece give perpetual check?
The queen is the most common perpetual check piece because of her range and mobility. Rooks can sometimes give perpetual check, especially along ranks. Knights can occasionally give perpetual check in specific positions, though this is rare. Bishops almost never give perpetual check because they are limited to squares of one color.
Should I always take a draw by perpetual check?
Not always. If you have a winning position, perpetual check is unnecessary. Only seek it when your position is losing or when the alternative is a dangerous position with significant risk. Always evaluate whether you have something better than a draw before settling for one.
Professor Archer says: As both an attacker and a defender, you need to be aware of perpetual check possibilities. When you are attacking, make sure your opponent does not have a perpetual check escape route. When you are defending, look for one — it could save the game. I have drawn several "lost" positions through perpetual check, and each one felt like a small miracle.
Quick Quiz
You are down a rook but can give an endless series of queen checks that the opponent's king cannot escape. What is the result?
- You win because giving check is always good - Giving check does not win the game by itself. Checks only lead to a win if they result in checkmate. Endless checks without mate lead to a draw.
- A draw by perpetual check (threefold repetition) (Correct) - Correct. An unending series of checks forces the same position to repeat, and after three repetitions, the game is drawn. This saves you from losing despite being down material.
- Your opponent wins because they have more material - Material advantage does not matter if the opponent cannot escape perpetual check. The game is drawn regardless of the material difference.
- The game continues until someone runs out of time - Threefold repetition allows either player to claim a draw. The game does not need to continue indefinitely — once the position has repeated three times, a draw can be claimed.