Three-Check: a chess variant where three checks win
Three-Check
Definition
Three-Check (sometimes written “3-Check”) is a chess variant in which the normal rules of chess apply except that a new, additional win-condition is in force: the first player to give three checks of any kind—double checks count as only one—wins the game instantly, even if the position is otherwise lost or stalemate would occur on the next move. Delivering checkmate still wins, but a game usually ends earlier because the third check triggers an automatic victory.
Basic Rules & Usage
- The standard initial position and normal piece movement are retained.
- Players keep a running tally of the checks they have given; typical online interfaces display this as “✔✔ – ✔” or similar.
- Castling, en passant, promotion, and the fifty-move rule are all unchanged; only the new win-condition is added.
- Checks are not required to be consecutive. For example, a sequence of check–no check–check–no check–check wins 3-Check.
- If both players reach the third check on the same move (possible only by double-check and counter-check), the player who was checked loses, because the game ends the moment the three-check threshold is reached.
Strategic Significance
Because every check is a step toward victory, initiative and king safety are even more valuable than in orthodox chess. Sacrifices that open files, diagonals, or activate pieces are frequently sound; conversely, passive positions often collapse under the continual threat of checks. Common strategic themes include:
- Early Development & Piece Activity – Rapidly mobilised pieces increase the likelihood of delivering the first—and ultimately the third—check.
- King Placement – Delaying castling can be disastrous; fianchetto structures and flexible castling choices are popular.
- Counter-Checks – Sometimes the easiest way to blunt an attack is to give a check yourself, resetting the momentum and levelling the check count.
- Material Imbalance – Being up a rook rarely compensates for being two checks down; material is frequently jettisoned to avoid the fatal third check.
Historical Notes
Although “check contests” have appeared in problem compositions since the 19th century, Three-Check became widely known in the 1990s when grandmaster Pal Benko promoted several “Benko variations” of chess meant to reinvigorate play. The format gained real traction online:
- Lichess introduced an official 3-Check time-control in 2015.
- Chess.com featured Three-Check in the Chess.com Variants Championship 2017, where GM Hikaru Nakamura famously beat GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 9-3.
- Annual 3-Check Titled Arenas regularly attract super-GMs; Magnus Carlsen won the March 2020 edition with a score of 77½/94.
Illustrative Example
The following miniature shows typical Three-Check tactics. White wins on move 7 by scoring the third check:
Check count: 4.Bxf7+ (1st) • 5.Ng5+ (2nd) • 7.Qh5+ (3rd) ⇒ White wins immediately; the position need not be legally checkmated.
Famous Anecdotes & Trivia
- Because stalemate is irrelevant, “stalemate tricks” from standard blitz are replaced by “double-check swindles,” where a desperate player sacrifices material to score counter-checks and level the count.
- Engines evaluate Three-Check positions very differently; Stockfish
might prefer what looks like a dubious gambit in classical chess
because the
check potential
outweighs material considerations. - On move 1, 1.f4 (Bird’s Opening) scores better than in normal chess in databases of 3-Check games, largely thanks to fast rook lifts (Rf1-f3-h3) and immediate pressure on the enemy king.
- The rare occurrence of a player delivering all three checks at once
via discovered double-check plus a promoted piece is called a
“
hat-trick mate
.”
Why Study Three-Check?
Even if you mainly play classical chess, dabbling in 3-Check hones attacking instincts, calculation depth, and appreciation for king safety. Many coaches recommend it as a training tool: counting checks focuses the mind on forcing moves, the very backbone of high-level tactical play.