Three-Check Chess - Check Three Times and Win
Standard chess with a twist: deliver three checks to your opponent and the game is over. Aggressive play is not just rewarded — it is required.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: Three-Check chess rewards aggression in a way standard chess does not. Every check counts toward a tangible goal, so passive play can cost you the game even if your position looks solid.
What Is Three-Check Chess?
Three-Check Chess adds a simple but game-changing win condition to standard chess: if you deliver three checks to your opponent's king, you win immediately. Checkmate also wins, and so does the opponent running out of time. But the three-check path creates an entirely different dynamic.
Each check is tracked as a counter. You do not need to deliver three checks in a row — they accumulate throughout the game. A check on move 5, another on move 15, and a third on move 30 would all count. This means every single check matters strategically, and players must weigh the value of giving check against other positional considerations.
How Checks Are Counted
Both players have their own check counter that starts at zero. Whenever you deliver check, your counter increases by one. When it reaches three, you win immediately.
Discovered checks, double checks, and checks from any piece all count equally as one check. There is no bonus for delivering check with a specific piece or in a specific way.
Checks that are part of a checkmate sequence also count, but since checkmate itself wins the game, the counter is only relevant if you deliver a third check without achieving checkmate. If a check happens to also be checkmate, the game ends on checkmate rather than needing a third check.
Strategy for Three-Check
Piece activity and king safety are amplified in importance. Every piece that can potentially give check becomes more valuable, and your king must be protected not just from checkmate but from any check at all.
Sacrifices for check are more justifiable than in standard chess. Giving up material to deliver a check is sometimes worth it if you are already at two checks and one more wins the game. Conversely, defending against checks becomes a priority even when the check itself causes no positional harm.
Openings that develop pieces aggressively and create early checking opportunities are favored. Quiet, closed positions give both players fewer checking chances, which can be either a strategic choice (if you are behind on checks) or a risk (if your opponent shifts to a checking attack).
Keeping track of the check count is essential. If your opponent has two checks and you have zero, the game dynamic is fundamentally different than if both players have one check each. Adjust your aggression and caution accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the three checks need to be consecutive?
No. The checks accumulate over the entire game regardless of how many moves pass between them. A check on move 3 and a check on move 40 both count equally toward the total of three.
Can I still win by checkmate?
Yes. Checkmate still wins the game instantly. Three-Check adds an additional win condition but does not remove the standard one. You can pursue either path to victory.
Where can I play Three-Check online?
Lichess offers Three-Check as a standard variant with rated play and tournaments. It is a popular choice for players looking for a faster-paced, more aggressive chess experience.
Professor Archer says: I find Three-Check useful for teaching beginners the power of initiative. When every check brings you closer to winning, students naturally learn to develop actively and seek attacking chances.
Quick Quiz
How do you win in Three-Check Chess (besides checkmate)?
- Deliver three checks to the opponent's king (Correct) - In Three-Check Chess, delivering three checks (accumulated over the entire game, not necessarily consecutive) wins the game immediately.
- Capture the opponent's queen three times - The win condition is about delivering checks to the king, not capturing specific pieces. Three checks wins the game.
- Control three center squares simultaneously - That sounds like King of the Hill. In Three-Check, you win by delivering three checks to the opponent's king.
- Promote three pawns - Pawn promotion is not a win condition. The unique win condition in Three-Check is delivering three checks to the opponent's king.