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King Hunt: The "Fatal Attraction"
A King Hunt is one of the most thrilling sights in chess. It occurs when an attacker sacrifices material to drag the enemy King out of his shelter and into the open board. This guide explains the "fatal attraction" patterns that force the King on a dangerous walk, teaching you how to coordinate your pieces to deliver a checkmate in the middle of the board.
🔥 Hunt insight: Dragging the king out is fun, but checkmate is the goal. You need precise calculation to ensure the king doesn't escape. Master the art of the attack to finish the hunt.
The Concept: A King Hunt occurs when the King is forced out of safety and into a "Royal Walkabout." Through a series of forced checks and sacrifices, the King is dragged across the board to be mated in the open.
King Hunt Examples
A king hunt is a sustained attack where the enemy king is driven across the board, unable to find safety. Instead of delivering an immediate mate, the attacker uses checks, threats, and piece coordination to keep the king exposed until the position collapses. The examples below show how king hunts typically begin, escalate, and finally conclude.
1. The Most Famous Hunt
Edward Lasker vs. Sir George Thomas (1912)
The Spark: 1. Qxh7+!
White sacrifices the Queen to drag the King out. The King is forced on a journey from g8 to g1.
1.Qxh7+ Kxh7 2.Nxf6+ Kh6 3.Neg4+ Kg5 4.h4+ Kf4 5.g3+ Kf3 6.Be2+ Kg2 7.Rh2+ Kg1 8.Kd2#
White sacrifices the Queen to drag the King out. The King is forced on a journey from g8 to g1.
1.Qxh7+ Kxh7 2.Nxf6+ Kh6 3.Neg4+ Kg5 4.h4+ Kf4 5.g3+ Kf3 6.Be2+ Kg2 7.Rh2+ Kg1 8.Kd2#
2. The Long Walk
Norwood vs. Marsh
The Sequence: A brutal 9-move hunt.
White sacrifices the Queen on c6 to start a journey that ends with the Black King on the opposite side of the board.
1.Qxc6+! Kxc6 2.Nxd4+ Kb6 3.Rb1+ Ka6 4.Bb7+ Ka5 5.Bd2+ Ka4 6.Bc6+ Kxa3 7.Bc1+ Ka2 8.Rb2+ Ka1 9.Nc2#
White sacrifices the Queen on c6 to start a journey that ends with the Black King on the opposite side of the board.
1.Qxc6+! Kxc6 2.Nxd4+ Kb6 3.Rb1+ Ka6 4.Bb7+ Ka5 5.Bd2+ Ka4 6.Bc6+ Kxa3 7.Bc1+ Ka2 8.Rb2+ Ka1 9.Nc2#
3. Mini King-Hunt
Popov vs. Ryumin
The Pattern: 1...Rxf3!
Black destroys White's pawn shield. After White recaptures, the King is pulled into the center and finished by a Knight.
1...Rxf3 2.Bxf3 Qxf3+ 3.Kxf3 Nxd4+ 4.Kg4 Bc8+ 5.Kh4 Nf3#
Black destroys White's pawn shield. After White recaptures, the King is pulled into the center and finished by a Knight.
1...Rxf3 2.Bxf3 Qxf3+ 3.Kxf3 Nxd4+ 4.Kg4 Bc8+ 5.Kh4 Nf3#
⚡ Chess Tactics Guide – Stop Missing Winning Moves (0–1600)
This page is part of the Chess Tactics Guide – Stop Missing Winning Moves (0–1600) — Most games under 1400 are decided by simple tactics. Learn how to spot forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks, deflections, and mating threats before your opponent does — and stop losing winning positions to missed opportunities.
♔ Chess King Safety Guide – Stop Getting Mated
This page is part of the Chess King Safety Guide – Stop Getting Mated — Practical king safety rules for real games — when to castle, when to delay, how pawn moves create weaknesses, how to avoid castling into an attack, and how to defuse threats before they explode.