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Anastasia's mate [ edit ]

In Anastasia's mate, a knightand rook team up to trap the opposing king

between the side of the board on one side and a friendly piece on the other. a b c d e f g h
This checkmate got its name from the novel Anastasia und das 8 8
Schachspiel by Johann Jakob Wilhelm Heinse.[1][2] 7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Anastasia's mate

Anderssen's mate [ edit ]

In Anderssen's mate (named for Adolf Anderssen), the rook or queen is

supported by a diagonally-attacking piece such as a pawnor bishop as it a b c d e f g h
checkmates the opposing king along the eighth rank. 8 8

Sometimes a distinction is drawn between Anderssen's mate, where the rook 7 7

is supported by a pawn (which itself is supported by another piece, as in the 6 6
diagram), and Mayet's mate, where the rook is supported by a distant
5 5
bishop.[3]
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Anderssen's mate

Arabian mate [ edit ]

In the Arabian mate, the knight and the rook team up to trap the opposing
king on a corner of the board. The rook sits on a square adjacent to the king a b c d e f g h
both to prevent escape along the diagonal and to deliver checkmate while the 8 8
knight sits two squares away diagonally from the king to prevent escape on 7 7
the square next to the king and to protect the rook.[4]
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Arabian mate

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Back-rank mate [ edit ]

Main article: back-rank mate

The back-rank mate occurs when a rook or queen checkmates a king that is
blocked in by friendly pieces (usually pawns) on his first rank. a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal back-rank mate

Bishop and knight mate [ edit ]

The Bishop and knight checkmateoccurs when the king teams up with a
bishop and knight to force the opponent king to the corner of the board. The a b c d e f g h
bishop and knight endgame can be difficult to master: some positions may 8 8
require up to 34 moves of perfect play before checkmate can be delivered. 7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Bishop and knight
mate

Blackburne's mate [ edit ]

Blackburne's mate is named for Joseph Henry Blackburne and is a rare

method of checkmating. The checkmate utilizes the black rook (it could be a a b c d e f g h
bishop or queen instead) to confine the black king's escape to the f8 square. 8 8
One of the bishops confines the black king's movement by operating at a 7 7
distance, while the knight and the other bishop operate within close
6 6
range.[5] Threatening Blackburne's mate can be used to weaken Black's
position. 5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
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a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Blackburne's mate

Blind swine mate [ edit ]

The name of this pattern is attributed

to Polish master Dawid Janowski who a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
referred to doubled rooks on a 8 8 8 8
player's 7th rank as "swine".[6] In the 7 7 7 7
first diagram and assuming there are
no interferences, White can force 6 6 6 6
checkmate as follows: 5 5 5 5
1. Rxg7+ Kh8 4 4 4 4
2. Rxh7+ Kg8 3 3 3 3
3. Rbg7#
2 2 2 2
For this type of mate, the rooks on
1 1 1 1
White's 7th rank can start on any two
files from a to e, and although black a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
pawns are commonly present as White mates in 3 moves Final position after 3 moves.
shown, they are not necessary to Position prior to a Blind swine mate An archetypal Blind swine mate
effect the mate. The second diagram
shows final position after checkmate.

Boden's mate [ edit ]

Main article: Boden's mate

In Boden's matetwo attacking bishops on criss-crossing diagonals deliver
mate to a king obstructed by friendly pieces, usually a rook and a pawn.[7][8] a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Boden's mate

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Box mate (Rook mate) [ edit ]

Main article: Checkmate § King and rook

The Box mate is one of the four basic checkmatesalong with Queen mate,
king and two bishops checkmate, and bishop and knight checkmate. It occurs a b c d e f g h
when the side with the king and rook box in the bare king to the corner or 8 8
edge of the board. The mate is delivered by the rook along the edge rank or 7 7
file, and escape towards the centre of the board is blocked by the king.
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
A typical Box mate

Corner mate [ edit ]

The Corner mate is a common method of checkmating. It works by confining

the king to the corner using a rook or queen and using a knight to engage the a b c d e f g h
checkmate. 8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Corner mate

Cozio's mate [ edit ]

Cozio's mate is a common method of

checkmating. The checkmate is an a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
upside down version of the Dovetail 8 8 8 8
mate. It was named after a 7 7 7 7
study Carlo Coziothat was published
in 1766. 6 6 6 6
5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
White then checkmates with 2.Qh2

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An archetypal Cozio's mate. After

1.Qh6+, Black is forced to play
1...Kg3

Damiano's bishop mate [ edit ]

Damiano's bishop mate is a classic method of checkmating. The checkmate

utilizes a queen and bishop, where the bishop is used to support the queen a b c d e f g h
and the queen is used to engage the checkmate. The checkmate is named 8 8
after Pedro Damiano. 7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Damiano's bishop mate

Damiano's mate [ edit ]

Damiano's mate is a classic method of checkmating and one of the oldest. It

works by confining the king with a pawn and using a queen to initiate the final a b c d e f g h
blow. Damiano's mate is often arrived at by first sacrificing a rook on the h- 8 8
file, then checking the king with the queen on the h-file, and then moving in 7 7
for the mate. The checkmate was first published by Pedro Damiano in
6 6
1512.[9] In Damiano's publication he failed to place the white king on
the board which resulted in it not being entered into many chess databases 5 5
due to their rejection of illegal positions. 4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Damiano's mate

David and Goliath mate [ edit ]

The David and Goliath mate is a common method of checkmating. Although

the David and Goliath mate can take many forms, it is characterized generally a b c d e f g h
as a mate in which a pawn is the final attacking piece and where enemy 8 8
pawns are nearby. Its name is taken from the biblicalaccount of David and 7 7
Goliath.
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3

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2 2

1 1

a b c d e f g h
An archetypal David and Goliath
mate

Double bishop mate [ edit ]

The Double bishop mate is a classic method of checkmating. It is similar

to Boden's mate, but a bit simpler. The checkmate involves attacking the king a b c d e f g h
using two bishops, resulting in the king being trapped behind a pawn that has 8 8
not been moved. 7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Double bishop mate

Dovetail mate [ edit ]

The Dovetail mate is a common method of checkmating. It involves trapping

the black king in the pattern shown. It does not matter how the queen is a b c d e f g h
supported and it does not matter which type Black's other two pieces are so 8 8
long as neither is an unpinned knight. See also Swallow's tail mate. 7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Dovetail mate

Epaulette mate [ edit ]

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Epaulette or epaulet mateis, in its broadest definition, a checkmatewhere

two parallel retreat squares for a checked king are occupied by its own a b c d e f g h
pieces, preventing its escape.[10] The most common Epaulette mate involves 8 8
the king on its back rank, trapped between two rooks.[11] The perceived visual 7 7
similarity between the rooks and epaulettes, ornamental shoulder pieces
worn on military uniforms, gives the checkmate its name.[11] 6 6
5 5
Example games [ edit ] 4 4

Van Wely–Morozevich, Wijk aan Zee 2001 ; Loek van Wely is forced 3 3
to resign after blundering into an unavoidable Epaulette mate 2 2
against Alexander Morozevich.[12] 1 1
Carlsen–Ernst, Wijk aan Zee 2004 ; a thirteen-year-old Magnus
a b c d e f g h
Carlsen achieves an unusual "sideways" Epaulette mate against Sipke
Ernst on his way to winning the C Group at the Corus chess tournament in An archetypal Epaulette mate
2004.[13]
Anand-Carlsen, Tal Memorial Blitz World Championship 2009 ; when
Carlsen essentially clinched the blitz world champion title.

Greco's mate [ edit ]

Greco's mate is a common method of checkmating. The checkmate is

named after the famous Italian checkmate cataloguer Gioachino Greco. It a b c d e f g h
works by using the bishop to contain the black king by use of the black g- 8 8
pawn and subsequently using the queen or a rook to checkmate the king by 7 7
moving it to the edge of the board.[14]
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Greco's mate

h-file mate [ edit ]

The h-file mateinvolves the use of a rook attacking the black king supported
by a bishop. It often comes about after the black king castles on a b c d e f g h
its kingside in a fianchettoposition. White usually arrives at this position after 8 8
a series of sacrifices on the h-file. 7 7
Although it is called the h-file mate, it can also occur on other files, so for 6 6
example with the uncastled black king on e8 and a white rook on d8 protected
5 5
by a white bishop on g5.
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal h-file mate

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Hook mate [ edit ]

The Hook mateinvolves the use of a white rook, knight, and pawn along with
one black pawn to limit the black king's escape. The rook is protected by the a b c d e f g h
knight and the knight is protected by the pawn. 8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Hook mate

Kill Box mate [ edit ]

The Kill Box mateis a box-shaped checkmate. The checkmate is

delivered by the rook with the queen's assistance. The rook is adjacent a b c d e f g h
to the king, the queen supports the rook by a separation of 1 empty 8 8
square on the same diagonal as the rook. This forms a 3 by 3 box
shape. The king could be on the edge of the board. Or, the king can be 7 7
anywhere on the board, but the escape squares must be blocked off to 6 6
prevent the escape of the king.
5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1
a b c d e f g h
The Kill Box checkmate

King and two bishops mate [ edit ]

Main article: Checkmate § King and two bishops

King and two bishops checkmate is one of the four basic checkmates along
with Queen mate, Rook mate, and the bishop and knight checkmate. It occurs a b c d e f g h
when the king with two bishops force the bare king to the corner of the board 8 8
to force a possible mate. 7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
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A typical king and two bishops

checkmate

King and two knights mate [ edit ]

In a two knights endgame, the side with the king and two
knights cannotcheckmate a bare king by force. This endgame should be a b c d e f g h
a draw if the bare king plays correctly. A mate only occurs if the player with 8 8
the bare king blunders. In some circumstances, if the side with the king also 7 7
has a pawn, it is possible to set up this type of checkmate.
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Checkmate with a king and two
knights, but it cannot be forced

Légal mate [ edit ]

Main article: Légal Trap

In the Légal mate, two knights and a bishop coordinate to administer
checkmate. a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Légal mate

Lolli's mate [ edit ]

Lolli's mate is a common method of checkmating. The checkmate involves

infiltrating Black's fianchetto position using both a pawn and queen. The a b c d e f g h
queen often gets to the h6 square by means of sacrifices on the h-file. It is 8 8
named after Giambattista Lolli. 7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4

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3 3
2 2

1 1

a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Lolli's mate

Max Lange's mate [ edit ]

Max Lange's mate is a common method of checkmating. The checkmate is

named after Max Lange. It works by using the bishop and queen to a b c d e f g h
checkmate the king. 8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Max Lange's mate

Morphy's mate [ edit ]

Morphy's mateis a common method of checkmating. It was named after Paul

Morphy. It works by using the bishop to attack the black king and a rook and a b c d e f g h
Black's own pawn to confine it.[15][16] In many respects it is very similar to 8 8
the Corner mate. 7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Morphy's mate

Opera mate [ edit ]

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The Opera mate is a common method of checkmating. It works by attacking a b c d e f g h

the king on the back rank with a rook using a bishop to protect it. A pawn or 8 8
other piece other than a knight of the enemy king's is used to restrict its
7 7
movement. The checkmate was named after its implementation by Paul
Morphy in 1858 at a game at the Paris opera against Duke Karl of 6 6
Brunswick and Count Isouard; see Opera game. 5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Opera mate

Pillsbury's mate [ edit ]

Pillsbury's mate[17] is a common method of checkmating and is named

a b c d e f g h
for Harry Nelson Pillsbury. It works by attacking the king with either the rook
or bishop as shown.[18] The king can be either on the g8 or h8 square during 8 8
the checkmate. 7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Pillsbury's mate example. 1.Rxg7+
Kh8 2.Rg1+ Rf6 3.Bxf6#

Queen mate [ edit ]

Main article: Checkmate § King and Queen

Queen mate is one of the four major checkmates along with Box mate, king
and two bishops checkmate, and bishop and knight checkmate. It occurs a b c d e f g h
when the side with the king and queen force the bare king to the edge or 8 8
corner of the board. The queen checkmates the bare king with the support of 7 7
the allied king.
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
A typical Queen mate

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Réti's mate [ edit ]

Réti's mate is a famous method of checkmating. The checkmate is named

after Richard Réti, who delivered it in an 11-move game against Savielly a b c d e f g h
Tartakower in 1910 in Vienna. It works by trapping the enemy king with four of 8 8
its own pieces that are situated on flight squares and then attacking it with a 7 7
bishop that is protected by a rook or queen.
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Réti's mate

Smothered mate [ edit ]

Main article: Smothered mate

Smothered mate is a common method of checkmating. It occurs when a
knight checkmates a king that is smothered (surrounded) by his friendly a b c d e f g h
pieces and he has nowhere to move nor is there any way to capture the 8 8
knight.[19] It is also known as Philidor's Legacy after François-André Danican 7 7
Philidor, though its documentation predates Philidor by several hundred
6 6
years.[20]
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
A typical Smothered mate

Suffocation mate [ edit ]

The Suffocation mate is a common method of checkmating. It works by

using the knight to attack the enemy king and the bishop to confine the king's a b c d e f g h
escape routes. 8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Suffocation mate

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Swallow's tail mate [ edit ]

Swallow's tail mate also known as the Guéridon mateis a common method
of checkmating. It works by attacking the enemy king with a queen that is a b c d e f g h
protected by a rook or other piece. The enemy king's own pieces (in this 8 8
example, rooks) block its means of escape.[21] It resembles the Epaulette 7 7
mate.
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
An archetypal Swallow's tail mate

See also [ edit ]

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