Perpetual check

In the game of chess, perpetual check is a situation in which one player can force a draw by an unending series of checks. This typically arises when the player who is checking cannot deliver checkmate, and failing to continue the series of checks gives the opponent at least a chance to win. A draw by perpetual check is no longer one of the rules of chess; however, such a situation will eventually result in a draw by either threefold repetition or the fifty-move rule. Players usually agree to a draw long before that, however. (Burgess 2000:478).

Perpetual check can also occur in other forms of chess, although the rules relating to it might be different. For example, giving perpetual check is not allowed in shogi and xiangqi, where doing so leads to an automatic loss for the giver.

Examples
Example from Reinfeld
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White to move draws by perpetual check, starting with 1.Qe8+.

In this diagram, Black is ahead a rook, a bishop, and a pawn, which would normally be a decisive material advantage. But White, to move, can draw by perpetual check:

1. Qe8+ Kh7
2. Qh5+ Kg8
3. Qe8+ etc. (Reinfeld 1958:42–43)

The same position will soon repeat for the third time and White can claim a draw by threefold repetition; or the players will agree to a draw.

Unzicker versus Averbakh
Unzicker vs. Averbakh, 1952
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Perpetual check extricates Black from his difficulties.

In the diagram, from Unzicker–Averbakh, Stockholm Interzonal 1952,[1] Black (on move) would soon be forced to give up one of his rooks for White's c-pawn (to prevent it from promoting or to capture the promoted queen after promotion). He can, however, exploit the weakness of White's kingside pawn structure with

1... Rxc7!
2. Qxc7 Ng4!

Threatening 3...Qh2#.

3. hxg4 Qf2+

Salvaging a draw by threefold repetition with checks by moving the queen alternatively to h4 and f2.

Hamppe versus Meitner
Main article: Immortal Draw
Hamppe vs. Meitner, 1872
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Down massive amounts of material, Black forces a draw by perpetual check.

In a classic game Carl Hamppe–Philipp Meitner, Vienna 1872,[2] following a series of sacrifices Black forced the game to the position in the diagram, where he drew by a perpetual check:

16... Bb7+!
17. Kb5

If 17.Kxb7?? Kd7 18.Qg4+ Kd6 followed by ...Rhb8#.

17... Ba6+
18. Kc6

If 18.Ka4?? Bc4 and 19...b5#.

18... Bb7+ ½–½

Leko versus Kramnik
Leko vs. Kramnik, 2008
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Position after 24.Qxf5

In the game Peter Leko–Vladimir Kramnik, Corus 2008, Black was able to obtain a draw because of perpetual check:[3]

24... Qb4+
25. Ka2 Qa4+
26. Kb2 Qb4+
27. Kc1 Qa3+
28. Kb1 ½–½

If 28. Kd2? Rd8+ 29. Ke2 Qe7+

Fischer versus Tal
Fischer vs. Tal, 1960
Fischer vs. Tal, 1960
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Position after 21.Kxg2

A perpetual check saved a draw for Mikhail Tal in the game Bobby Fischer–Tal, Leipzig 1960,[4] played in the 14th Chess Olympiad, while Tal was World Champion. In this position Black played

 21... Qg4+

and the game was drawn (Evans 1970:53). (After 22.Kh1, then 22...Qf3+ 23.Kg1 Qg4+ forces perpetual check.)

History
N.N. vs. Unknown, 1750
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Final position after 15...Kh7

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Chess Games, Volume 1 (1485–1866) includes all recorded games played up to 1800 (Levy & O'Connell 1981:ix). The earliest example of perpetual check contained in it is a game played by two unknown players in 1750:

N.N. versus Unknown, 1750
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. 0-0 (the rules of castling not yet having been standardized in their current form, White moved his king to h1 and his rook to f1) Nf6 5. Nc3 Ng4 6. d3 0-0 (Black moved his king to h8 and his rook to f8) 7. Ng5 d6 8. h3 h6 9. Nxf7+ Rxf7 10. Bxf7 Qh4 11. Qf3 Nxf2+ 12. Rxf2 Bxf2 13. Nd5 Nd4 14. Ne7 Nxf3 15. Ng6+ Kh7 ½–½ in light of 16.Nf8+ Kh8 17.Ng6+ etc. (Levy & O'Connell 1981:9)

The next examples of perpetual check in the book are two games, both ending in perpetual check, played in 1788 between Bowdler and Philidor, with Philidor giving odds of pawn and move (Levy & O'Connell 1981:12).

A draw by perpetual check used to be in the rules of chess (Reinfeld 1954:175), (Reinfeld 1958:41–43). Howard Staunton gave it as one of six ways to draw a game in The Chess-Player's Handbook (Staunton 1847:21). It has since been removed because perpetual check will eventually allow a draw claim by either threefold repetition or the fifty-move rule. If a player demonstrates intent to perform perpetual check, the players usually agree to a draw (Hooper & Whyld 1992).

See also

References
  1. "Unzicker vs. Averbakh, Stockholm 1952". Chessgames.com.
  2. "Hamppe vs. Meitner, Vienna 1872". Chessgames.com.
  3. "Leko vs. Kramnik, Wijk aan Zee 2008". Chessgames.com.
  4. "Fischer vs. Tal, Leipzig 1960". Chessgames.com.

Bibliography

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