Checkmate Hot1 (Relax Gaming) – Review & Demo Play

Checkmate Hot1 - Game Overview

I loaded Checkmate Hot1 and got a proper chess vibe. You spin on a 5x3 grid with 30 lines, set in a marble hall with big windows and chess sets everywhere. Wins pay left to right when three or more land on a line. The developer keeps it simple yet different, as the features push the board theme hard. Wilds carry 2x, scatters set up respins and free spins, and the final Hot1 spin can flip the board in your favour.

RTP, Volatility and Payouts in Checkmate Hot1

RTP sits at 96.14% in standard play and rises to 96.34% with the Buy Feature. Variance is high, yet the hit rate of about 39.33% keeps the meter ticking. That means roughly four in ten spins pay something, though many will be small. Top exposure reaches 4,953x the stake, which suits the risk profile. Feature frequency is around once in 146 spins on average, so I budget for stretches between the main events.

Stake range runs from £0.40 to £40 per spin, which covers casual play and solid testing. You get 30 fixed lines, and wins start from reel one. I like that the bonus buy is a flat 75x the bet. When allowed, it drops you straight into free spins and nudges the RTP to the higher setting. I use it when the base feels cold, but I still mix in natural triggers to balance variance.

Symbols and Paytable in Checkmate Hot1

The paytable blends card suits for lows and six chess pieces for highs. Five-of-a-kind suit wins pay 2.5x to 3.125x. The pieces scale up as pawn, knight, bishop, rook, queen, then king. Line hits of five pay 3.75x up to 25x, with the king on top. Symbols look clear on the board, and the values match the theme. It is a straight set, so you can map hit sizes quickly while watching the feature progress.

The wild is the blonde lady. She substitutes and doubles any win she helps to complete. If more than one wild lands in a line, the multiplier still stays at 2x, so no stacking. The scatter is the gold emblem that drives the respins and the free spins. In bonus play those positions turn sticky, which ties into the upgrade mechanic and sets up the Hot1 swing. It is all easy to track after a few spins.

Checkmate Hot1 Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	5	x25
	4	x3.75
	3	x0.875
	5	x10
	4	x1.875
	3	x0.625
	5	x7.5
	4	x1.75
	3	x0.5
	5	x5
	4	x1.25
	3	x0.5
	5	x3.75
	4	x0.625
	3	x0.375
	5	x3.75
	4	x0.625
	3	x0.375
	5	x3.125
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.25
	5	x3.125
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.25
	5	x2.5
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.125
	5	x2.5
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.125
	Scatter
	Wild

Bonus Features in Checkmate Hot1

Two scatters during the base can trigger a hold-and-respin. In Bonus Chance Respin the two reels with scatters stay locked while the other three spin once. It is a neat nudge towards the bonus, and it can also land line wins you missed. I rate this as a handy saver when the third scatter refuses to show. It does not retrigger, so you get one roll at lining up the last piece.

The Wild Gambit Respin follows the same hold, but with a twist. The held scatters transform into 2x wilds for that respin. It feels swingy, since you can land boosted line wins even if the third scatter still hides. The 2x effect applies as usual, and it helps when a high symbol lines up on a locked reel. This keeps the base game from going stale while you chase free spins.

Wilds in the base also carry 2x, which can tidy up mid-tier hits when kings or queens connect. The multipliers do not compound, so I play for clean lines rather than wild stacks. Between the two respin modes and random wild hits, the core loop holds up. It is not packed with extras, yet the chess flavour comes through, and the pace stays brisk enough while waiting for the main feature.

Free Spins and Hot1 in Checkmate Hot1

Land three or more scatters and you get seven free spins on special reels. All triggering scatters lock and convert to the lowest chess piece. On each spin they upgrade to the next piece in the set until they reach the top symbol. Any new scatter becomes sticky, matches the current piece, and adds one extra spin. The board slowly builds, and matching upgrades can throw up tidy lines before the final step.

The last spin is the Hot1. Every sticky position turns wild with a 2x multiplier. If a fresh scatter appears during Hot1, it also turns into a sticky wild and you get another spin. This is the punchy moment where the grid can light up. I have seen big ladders finish here, and the maths backs it, with the game capped at 4,953x. The upgrade path makes that spike feel earned rather than random.

Verdict on Checkmate Hot1

I like what Checkmate Hot1 does with a theme we rarely see. The art leans classic rather than flashy, but the 2x wilds and the upgrade ladder give it bite. The respins keep the chase alive, and the bonus buy at 75x is fair when you want action. High variance with a lively hit rate suits session play. For me, the Hot1 swing sells it, as sticky spots flipping to 2x wilds is a proper finish.