A king hunt is a series of checks, often starting with a sacrifice, that drives the enemy king out of its shelter and across the board to be mated.
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Each check leaves the king few replies, so a long hunt can be calculated to the end. It has to be, because after the sacrifice there is no way back.
How to do it
- 1Look for a sacrifice that strips the king's cover, often on h7 or h2.
- 2Keep checking, so the defender never gets a free move.
- 3Count the king's squares after each check, and know where the mate is.
For your level
Calculate a hunt to the mate before you sacrifice. Every check must leave few replies, and you should know which move mates at the end.
Check you have it
Pitch it for:
Question 1 of 3
Play the moves through. What has happened to the king?
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Question 2 of 3
After the last move, how many legal moves does the mated side have?
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Question 3 of 3
Which black pawn has no friendly pawn on either neighbouring file?
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Common mistakes
- Starting the hunt without seeing the end, and running out of checks.
- Stopping to take material, which gives the king a free move to escape.
Questions
- How do I know a king hunt will work?
- Calculate it. Every move should be a check with only one or two replies. If the defender ever gets a real choice, or a free move, the hunt is not forced.
- Is a queen sacrifice worth it for a king hunt?
- Only when you have seen the mate. If the checks run out first, you are a queen down with nothing to show for it.