Abstract It is shown that the two-dimensional free fermion model is equivalent to a checkerboard Ising model, which is a special case of the general ‘Z-invariant’ Ising model. Expressions are given for the partition function and local correlations in terms of those of the regular square lattice Ising model. Corresponding results are given for the self-dual Potts model, and the application of the methods to the three-dimensional Zamolodchikov model is discussed. The paper ends with a discussion of the critical and disorder surfaces of the checkerboard Potts model.