Checkless chess

Checkless chess (or prohibition chess) is a chess variant where neither player is allowed to give a check, with the exception of checkmate. All other rules are as in regular chess.

Observations[]

This section uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

The rule change of checkless chess has a profound impact on the way the game is played in that the king is immune to most attacks as long as it avoids being checkmated. Checks cannot be used to gain time or chase the king to an unsafe position. In addition, it is generally significantly more difficult to execute mating patterns.

Another effect of this rule is that the king, immune from attack, is now itself a powerful force. The king can defend pieces by placing itself so that capturing the piece would place the king in check. The king can advance into the enemy position, creating havoc in the enemy camp as enemy pieces need to avoid moving to squares where they would put the king under check. However, such a plan may be risky since getting the king trapped in the enemy camp may subject it to an untimely checkmate.

Stalemate in Checkless Chess

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

This is stalemate if White is to move in this variant. White's only legal move (b5) puts the Black King in check.

Because of the no-check rule, situations may arise where the only legal moves a player can make are ones that put the opposing side into check. In most cases, this results in stalemate if it were that player's move. Some variations however, may consider check a checkmate if the only responses to the check are cross-checks.

A Win for White?

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

In variants where checking a King is considered checkmate if the only responses are cross-checks, then White checkmates with Re2 or Rd5, as all King moves would result in discovered check from the Black Bishop.

References[]

Entry on "Checkless chess" in Hooper, David; Whyld, Ken (1984). Oxford Companion to Chess. ISBN 0-19-217540-8.

External links[]

Checkless chess by Hans Bodlaender.

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