Double check

What is a double check?

Double check is when the king is in check from two pieces at the same time. It comes from a discovered check where the moving piece gives check too: it steps out of the way of the piece behind it, and checks the king itself. (The one rare exception is en passant, which empties two squares and can open two lines at once.)

Against a double check there is only one defense: the king has to move. A single move can't block two lines or capture two pieces. That's why a checking piece can happily stand where it could be captured. Unless the king itself can take it, your opponent has no time to.

Double check lies behind many of the most beautiful combinations in chess history, often after a queen sacrifice. The king is driven out of its shelter, and mate often follows just a few moves later.

How the puzzles work

There are 150 puzzles here. Choose a level above the board. Within each level the puzzles get harder and harder, and when you come back you pick up where you left off.

Your opponent makes the first move, then it's your turn. If you get stuck, Hint shows which piece to move, and Show the solution plays the rest. The theme only shows once the puzzle is done, but here you already know what you're looking for.

In Puzzle training you get puzzles in this theme at your own level, and see how you're doing in each theme.

More puzzles

• Mate in one
• Mate in two
• Mate in three
• Fork
• Pin
• Skewer
• Discovered attack
• Sacrifice
• Deflection
• Attraction
• Hanging piece
• In-between move
• Back-rank mate
• Smothered mate
• Promotion
• Endgame
• Rook endgames
• Pawn endgames
• Zugzwang

The puzzles come from Lichess, fetched on October 2, 2026.

Updated November 6, 2026