Skip to content

Ponderchess / Chess variants

Three-check

Give check three times and you win, so every open line toward a king becomes a threat.
Created
Unknown
Creator
Unknown
Where
Unknown
Board
8×8
What changes
Three checks win

Where it came from

Nobody knows who invented it

Three-check is a folk variant: nobody knows who invented it. It was popular on early internet chess servers and is now one of the most played variants online.

Its single rule change rewards initiative and punishes loose king safety. Moves that would be harmless checks in standard chess count toward victory.

Why it was made: To make attacking and king safety matter from the very first moves.

How it differs from chess

  • Counting checksEvery check counts, whether or not it achieves anything. The third check wins.
  • Checkmate still winsYou can also win by checkmate before giving three checks.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h

Files a b c d e f g h
After 3.Bxf7+, White has given one check and needs two more.

Your first game

  • Count the checks you can give in a row: three consecutive checks win even if the king is not trapped.
  • Keep diagonals toward your king closed; an open e-file or a1–h8 diagonal is a liability.
  • Trading queens greatly reduces checking chances.

Questions

Does a check that captures the king’s attacker still count?
Yes. Every move that gives check counts toward the three.

Sources