Double check chess puzzles
20 double check puzzles from real games, ordered from easy to hard. Each has a hint and the full solution.
What is a double check in chess?
A double check gives check with two pieces at once. It cannot be blocked or answered by one capture, so the king must move. It is the most forcing move in chess and often leads to mate.
How to spot a double check
Look for a discovered check where the moving piece can also give check. When the enemy king has few squares, a double check is usually decisive.
Learn it first: Discovered attacks and double check
Double check chess puzzles
Puzzle 1: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 18. Nd5.
Puzzle rating 720
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, double check, middlegame tactic
Show solution
18... Bxe3#
FEN: 5rk1/p1r2p1p/5p2/2bNpb2/8/1B2P1P1/PP3P1P/2KR3R b - - 4 18
Puzzle 2: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 15... Ke6.
Puzzle rating 866
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, double check, middlegame tactic
Show solution
16. Nc7#
FEN: 1rb4r/3pn1pp/p3kp2/npPNp3/4P3/1B2B3/PP3PPP/R3K2R w KQ - 1 16
Puzzle 3: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 31... Bxh6.
Puzzle rating 971
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, epaulette mate, discovered check
Show solution
32. Ne7+ Kg7 33. Rg8#
FEN: 1RN3k1/5p1p/p3p1pb/r3P3/8/5B2/b5PP/7K w - - 0 32
Puzzle 4: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 34. Kf1.
Puzzle rating 1156
Hint
Theme: discovered check, double check, endgame tactic
Show solution
34... Qc1+ 35. Kg2 gxf3+
FEN: 8/7k/4p1rp/p1Q1P3/2P2qp1/5P2/P4P1P/5KR1 b - - 1 34
Puzzle 5: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 31. bxc6.
Puzzle rating 1193
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, discovered check, double check
Show solution
31... Rf1+ 32. Rxf1 gxf1=Q#
FEN: 5rr1/p1k4p/2P5/4p3/4P3/1Q1P4/PP2b1pP/R5K1 b - - 0 31
Puzzle 6: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 31. Rxb8.
Puzzle rating 1408
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, discovered check, double check
Show solution
31... Rf1+ 32. Kh2 Ng4#
FEN: 1Rb1Q3/2bp1rp1/4p3/p1k1n1B1/3N4/7P/P5P1/7K b - - 0 31
Puzzle 7: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 11... Kf6.
Puzzle rating 1502
Hint
Theme: skewer, discovered check, double check
Show solution
12. Be5+ Kg6 13. Bxh8
FEN: r4bnr/ppp4p/2np1k2/8/3PPB2/8/PPP3PP/RN3RK1 w - - 1 12
Puzzle 8: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 29... c1=Q.
Puzzle rating 1586
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, discovered check, double check
Show solution
30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. Qf7#
FEN: 5rk1/5Rp1/7p/4N3/1PQP4/4q2P/6PK/2q5 w - - 0 30
Puzzle 9: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 17. Bxg6.
Puzzle rating 1661
Hint
Show solution
17... Nf3+ 18. Kh1 Nxg5
FEN: r4b1r/ppkb2pp/1q4B1/6Q1/3nN3/1P5N/PBPPp1PP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 17
Puzzle 10: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 32... Qf6.
Puzzle rating 1783
Hint
Show solution
33. Nf8+ Kg8 34. Qh7+ Kf7 35. e5
FEN: r3r3/p3P1bk/n2p1qNp/2p2Q2/1p2P3/6P1/5PBP/4R1K1 w - - 1 33
Puzzle 11: Black to move and mate in 2
Black to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 14. Kxf2.
Puzzle rating 1852
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, discovered check, double check
Show solution
14... Ng4+ 15. Kg1 Qxh2#
FEN: r1b2rk1/2qn2pp/1p2pn2/pP1p2N1/P1p5/B1P5/3PBKPP/RN1QR3 b - - 0 14
Puzzle 12: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 15. Kc2.
Puzzle rating 1962
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, discovered check, double check
Show solution
15... Ne1#
FEN: r6r/1pp1qkpp/5n2/3P1b2/pbPN4/N2n1P2/PPK3PP/R1BQ1B1R b - - 1 15
Puzzle 13: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 28. Kf1.
Puzzle rating 2003
Hint
Theme: fork, discovered check, double check
Show solution
28... Nxh2+ 29. Kg1 Nf3+ 30. Kg2 Nxe1+
FEN: r3k2r/pb1p4/4pp2/pP4p1/2P5/P2B1n2/5P1P/R2QRK2 b kq - 3 28
Puzzle 14: White to move and mate in 4
White to move and mate in 4. The opponent just played 28... Qxc2.
Puzzle rating 2052
Hint
Theme: mate in 4, double check, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
29. Rxg7+ Kh8 30. Rg8+ Kxg8 31. Rg1+ Rg5 32. Rxg5#
FEN: 5rk1/5ppp/p1p5/3p3r/8/1P1P3P/PBq2P2/1R4RK w - - 0 29
Puzzle 15: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 31... Ra2.
Puzzle rating 2132
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, discovered check, double check
Show solution
32. Rxg7+ Kh8 33. Rg8+ Kxg8 34. Ne7#
FEN: 5rk1/5ppb/1pN5/3P1P1P/1PP1n3/4q2P/rQK5/5BR1 w - - 7 32
Puzzle 16: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 32. Rd1.
Puzzle rating 2191
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, Opera mate, discovered check
Show solution
32... Qxh3+ 33. gxh3 Ng3+ 34. Kg1 Rg2#
FEN: 6k1/1b4pp/p3p3/1p2Nq2/4nP2/P1P4P/3r2P1/3RQR1K b - - 4 32
Puzzle 17: White to move and mate in 3
White to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 32... Kxh7.
Puzzle rating 2223
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, Opera mate, discovered check
Show solution
33. Qh4+ Nxh4 34. Rxf7+ Kh8 35. Rh7#
FEN: 5qr1/p1p2r1k/1p1p2n1/4nRB1/2PQ4/2P5/P1B3PP/6K1 w - - 0 33
Puzzle 18: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 41. d7.
Puzzle rating 2356
Hint
Show solution
41... hxg3+ 42. Kg1 gxf2+ 43. Kxf2 Qg3+
FEN: 4Q1rk/3P3p/8/1P6/P1P3qp/5pP1/5P1K/4R3 b - - 0 41
Puzzle 19: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 25. Ref1.
Puzzle rating 2437
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, epaulette mate, discovered check
Show solution
25... Qxh2+ 26. Kxh2 hxg3+ 27. Kg2 Rh2#
FEN: 7r/1p4k1/p3p1p1/3pPn2/7p/1PP2QPq/P6P/5RRK b - - 1 25
Puzzle 20: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 20... Kxg7.
Puzzle rating 2626
Hint
Theme: fork, discovered check, double check
Show solution
21. Nf5+ Kg6 22. Ne7+ Kh5 23. Qf3+
FEN: 5r2/p1p2pkp/1b6/1Pnq4/3Nn2P/2Q5/PB1Pp3/R3K3 w Q - 0 21