Exercise 17.1★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
17
Attacking the King · Yatish Chandra Shukla
Counter-Attack and Perpetual Check
The best defence is sometimes an attack
In this lesson you will learn
- When to stop defending and counter-attack
- The perpetual check: saving a lost position with endless checks
- How to recognise a perpetual: an exposed king and a mobile queen
- When not to take the draw
Every board on this page is live. Move the pieces by tapping or dragging, click any move in the lines to see that position, and press ↺ to start again.
17.1 Hit Back
Passive defence rarely succeeds against a strong attack. If you can create a threat of your own — a check, an attack on a loose piece, a mate threat against the enemy king — your opponent must answer it, and the attack loses time. In positions with opposite-side castling (Chapter 12) the counter-attack is often the only defence.
17.2 Perpetual Check
Sometimes you are so far behind in material that no normal defence helps. Then look for perpetual check: a series of checks that the opponent cannot escape. If the same position is repeated three times, the game is a draw.
A perpetual usually needs two things: an exposed enemy king (few pawns around it, or pawns that have moved forward) and a queen that can reach several checking squares. A queen alone can give perpetual check against a king with no shelter; a queen and knight, or queen and rook, are even more dangerous.
NoteWhen you are losing, look at every check you have — and then at every check you would have after the opponent's best reply. A perpetual is often hidden two moves deep.
LessonA draw by perpetual check from a lost position is a victory. But when you are winning, check that your king cannot be harassed before you grab material.
17.3 Worked Examples
In every example one side is a lot of material behind but can save the game. Find the perpetual check.
Diagram 17.1White to move
Example 17.1
White to move. How do you save the game?
Find the key move.
Solution. 1.♖d8+ ♕g8 2.♖xg8+ ♔xg8 3.♕d5+ ♔f8 4.♕f5+ — White gives perpetual check: the king cannot escape and the game is drawn, although White is 4 points of material behind.
Diagram 17.2Black to move
Example 17.2
Black to move. How do you save the game?
Find the key move.
Solution. 1...♕e3+ 2.♔f1 ♗d3+ 3.♕xd3 ♕xd3+ 4.♔f2 ♕d4+ — Black gives perpetual check: the king cannot escape and the game is drawn, although Black is 7 points of material behind.
Diagram 17.3Black to move
Example 17.3
Black to move. How do you save the game?
Find the key move.
Solution. 1...♕d1+ 2.♔g2 ♘xf4+ 3.gxf4 ♕g4+ 4.♔h1 ♕f3+ — Black gives perpetual check: the king cannot escape and the game is drawn, although Black is 11 points of material behind.
Diagram 17.4White to move
Example 17.4
White to move. How do you save the game?
Find the key move.
Solution. 1.♕xh7+ ♔f8 2.♕h8+ ♔f7 3.♕h5+ g6 4.♕xg6+ — White gives perpetual check: the king cannot escape and the game is drawn, although White is 8 points of material behind.
Diagram 17.5Black to move
Example 17.5
Black to move. What is the threat, and how do you stop it?
Find the key move.
Solution. 1...♖e1+ 2.♔g2 h5 — the only good defence, and the position holds. White threatened ♖b8#. Other moves lose.
Diagram 17.6Black to move
Example 17.6
Black to move. What is the threat, and how do you stop it?
Find the key move.
Solution. 1...♗xd2+ 2.♔b1 ♖d8 — the only good defence, and the position holds. White threatened ♕e8#. Other moves lose.
Remember
- A counter-attack forces your opponent to stop attacking and defend.
- Perpetual check saves lost positions: an exposed king and a mobile queen are the signs.
- Look two moves deep for a perpetual.
- When winning, keep your own king safe from checks.
Exercises · Lesson 17
In these positions you are behind but can save or win the game with checks and counter-attacks.
Exercise 17.2★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.3★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.4★★ · Find the move
Black to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.5★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.6★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.7★★ · Find the move
Black to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.8★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.9★★ · Find the move
Black to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.10★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.11★★ · Find the move
Black to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.12★★ · Find the move
Black to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.13★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.14★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.15★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.16★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.17★★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.18★★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.19★★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.20★★★ · Find the move
Black to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.21★★★ · Find the move
Black to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.22★★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.23★★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.24★★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.25★★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.
Exercise 17.26★★★ · Find the move
White to move
Save the game.