5 mind-blowing Double King Chess puzzles
Have you ever tried to play on two chessboards connected together?
Before you is a grandiose battlefield. The front line is doubled, long-range chess pieces move from one edge of the board to another in the blink of an eye, the situation on the chessboard changes with kaleidoscopic rapidity.
This is all Double King Chess where two players control two complete armies trying to checkmating either one of the opponent's kings.
I have prepared for you five interesting DKC problems that reveal the beauty of this truly amazing chess variant.
DKC problem 1
White to move and win.
We see what prevents White from completing the attack on the right half of the board. This is the black bishop on k8. The problem can be fixed simply:
1. Qxj7 and now checkmate on f7.
If 1 ...Bxj7 then 2. Rxp7+ Kxp7 3. Rxp3#
If Black tries to defend in some other way 1...d6, Ri7, Ni7 etc ( do not consider Nxn2+ only prolongs the agony) then 2. Qxk8+ and again 3. Rxp7+, 4. Rxp3#
DKC problem 2
White to move and mate in 4.
An interesting idea was realized in this problem - the decisive piece first checks one king, and after a while puts checkmate to another.
1. Bo5+ Kp5 (not 1. ... nxo5 2. Rp6#) 2. Qm8+ Bxm8 3. Ri6+ Kxj4 4. Bl2#
DKC problem 3
White to move and mate in 4.
Just to remember: A check to both kings is considered checkmate if at least one of them is unable to escape from this check. An excellent illustration of this rule can be found in the following problem:
1. Kj6 and there are no good moves for Black:
If 1. ...Bxa1 (1. ...Kxi3 2. Bk5#) 2. Rxf4 Kxi3 3. Bk5#
If 1. ... any 2. Rxf4 Bxf4 3. Bxf6 Bg5 4. Bxg5#
DKC problem 4
White to move and mate in 3.
The well-known example of rook and king checkmate against a bare king on a standard 8x8 board can also be used here.
To win, it is enough to checkmate one of the opponent's kings.
1. Kn7 Kp6 (1. ...Kp8 2. Ra5) 2. Ra5 Kp7 3. Rp5# or 2. Ra5 Kc1 3. Ra1#
DKC problem 5
White to move and mate in 6.
White's position seems hopeless. However, there is a way to win.
1. Rn8+ Kxn8 2. Qh2+ Nl6 3. Qxh6+ Ki8 4. Qj8+ Kxj8 5. Nxi6+ Ki8 6. Nik7#
DKS is a stunning variant of chess. Possibly even the best for large boards.
With the attraction of the randomness of the initial setup, Double King Chess 960 can become the leading one in a large family of all kinds of double king chess variants.
Thank you, guys! Stay safe and healthy!
