Double check: a practical example
A moving piece may give check while also uncovering a rook or bishop check behind it. In standard chess, the checked side must move the king, because capturing or blocking just one attacker does not remove the other attack.
How to use the idea in your games
When calculating an attack, examine moves that reveal a line while the moving piece also checks. Then map the king's destination squares carefully rather than assuming the king is trapped.
A useful study question
Can you explain double check in your own words, identify it in a position, and describe when the idea does not apply? Test the explanation on a legal board before relying on it.
Connect the ideas
Discovered check, King, Checkmate are useful next concepts. Follow the links to compare definitions and examples, then return to the complete chess glossary whenever an unfamiliar term appears.
Sources & further reading
References checked September 5, 2026. Linked services are independent of ChessRankings.com™.