Checkmates

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    From Wikibooks, under CC BY-SA 4.0, as the source states it. This page at Wikibooks.

    The text in its current form is incomplete.

    Introduction

    Checkmates are an essential part of the game of Chess, being the objective of the game. Checkmate is when you are checking the opponent's king and there are no legal moves to get out of the check. Some mating patterns are named. There are 36 named mating patterns in Chess and a handful of well-known early opening checkmates.

    		a b c d e f g h
    8a8 black kingb8 black kingc8 black kingd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
    7a7 white queenb7 black kingc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black kingg7 black kingh7 black king7
    6a6 black kingb6 white kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
    5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
    4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
    3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
    2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 black kingh2 black king2
    1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 black kingh1 black king1
    		a b c d e f g h
    Example of checkmate.

    Named mating patterns

    There are 36 recognized named mating patterns in Chess.

    Back rank mate

    The back rank mate is when the opponent's king is on its home rank and is being checkmated on that home rank by an opponent's queen or rook, while its escape squares are blocked by pawns or other pieces.

    		a b c d e f g h
    8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 white queend8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
    7a7 black pawnb7 black kingc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
    6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
    5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
    4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
    3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
    2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
    1a1 white rookb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 white kingh1 black king1
    		a b c d e f g h
    Example of back rank mate.


    Epaulette mate

    The epaulette mate is when the opponent's king is on ranks 1 or 8 and is checkmated, its escape squares cut off by its own pieces, usually rooks. This checkmate is usually performed by the queen, checking the opponent's king orthogonally while cutting off diagonal escape squares.

    		a b c d e f g h
    8a8 black kingb8 black kingc8 black kingd8 black rooke8 black kingf8 black rookg8 black kingh8 black king8
    7a7 black kingb7 black kingc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black kingg7 black kingh7 black king7
    6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 white queenf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
    5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
    4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
    3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 white pawn3
    2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 black kingh2 black king2
    1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 black kingh1 white king1
    		a b c d e f g h
    Example of epaulette mate

    Swallowtail mate

    The swallowtail mate is when the opponent's king is not on the edge (a or h-files or ranks 1 and 8) and is checkmated, usually by a queen orthogonally adjacent to the king, its escape squares diagonally blocked by its own pieces.

    		a b c d e f g h
    8a8 black rookb8 black kingc8 black rookd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
    7a7 black kingb7 black kingc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black kingg7 black kingh7 black king7
    6a6 black kingb6 white queenc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
    5a5 black kingb5 white kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
    4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
    3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
    2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
    1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 black kingh1 black king1
    		a b c d e f g h
    Example of swallowtail mate.

    Kill box mate

    The kill box mate is when the opponent's king is on the edge checkmated by a rook and defended by a queen, forming a box around the king where the queen and rook control every escape square that the opponent's king could've moved to.

    		a b c d e f g h
    8a8 black kingb8 black kingc8 black kingd8 white rooke8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
    7a7 black kingb7 black kingc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black kingg7 black kingh7 black king7
    6a6 black kingb6 white queenc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black pawn6
    5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
    4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
    3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 white pawnh3 black king3
    2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 black kingh2 white pawn2
    1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 white kingh1 black king1
    		a b c d e f g h
    Example of kill box mate.

    Cozio's mate

    The Cozio's mate is when the opponent's king is checkmated, usually by a queen diagonally adjacent to it, its orthogonal escape squares blocked by its own pieces. This checkmate is named after Carlos Cozio and is also known as dovetail mate.

    		a b c d e f g h
    8a8 black kingb8 black kingc8 black kingd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
    7a7 black kingb7 black kingc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black kingg7 black kingh7 black king7
    6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
    5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black pawnh5 black king5
    4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black queeng4 black kingh4 black king4
    3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 white queen3
    2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 white kingh2 black king2
    1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 black kingh1 black king1
    		a b c d e f g h
    Example of Cozio's mate.

    Triangle mate

    The triangle mate is when the opponent's king is on the edge of the board and is checkmated by a queen, while a rook defends the queen and cuts off the remaining escape square. The checkmate looks like a triangle between the queen, rook and opponent's king, thus the name.

    		a b c d e f g h
    8a8 black kingb8 black kingc8 black kingd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
    7a7 white queenb7 black kingc7 white rookd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black kingg7 black kingh7 black king7
    6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black pawn6
    5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
    4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
    3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
    2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 black kingh2 black king2
    1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 white kingh1 black king1
    		a b c d e f g h
    Example of triangle mate.

    Max Lange mate

    The Max Lange mate is when the opponent's king is checkmated by a queen, defended by a bishop which also controls an important potential flight square for the opponent's king. This checkmate is named after German chess player Max Lange.

    		a b c d e f g h
    8a8 black kingb8 black kingc8 black kingd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black kingg8 white queenh8 black king8
    7a7 black kingb7 black kingc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 white bishopg7 black pawnh7 black king7
    6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black pawn6
    5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
    4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
    3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
    2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 black kingh2 black king2
    1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 white bishoph1 white king1
    		a b c d e f g h
    Example of Max Lange mate.

    Balestra mate

    The Balestra mate is when the opponent's king is on one of the edge ranks (ranks 1 and 8) and is being checkmated by a bishop, while a queen controls most of the king's escape squares. The final position looks similar to a pair of scissors.

    		a b c d e f g h
    8a8 black kingb8 black kingc8 black kingd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
    7a7 black kingb7 black kingc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black kingg7 black kingh7 black king7
    6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 white bishope6 black kingf6 black kingg6 white queenh6 black king6
    5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
    4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
    3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
    2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 black kingh2 black king2
    1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 white kingh1 black king1
    		a b c d e f g h
    Example of Balestra mate.

    Bucking Bronco mate

    The Bucking Bronco mate is when the opponent's king is in the corner of the board and checkmate is delivered by a knight while a queen covers the escape squares that the opponent's king could potentially move to.

    		a b c d e f g h
    8a8 black queenb8 black knightc8 black kingd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
    7a7 black kingb7 black kingc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 white queeng7 black kingh7 black king7
    6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 white knighth6 black king6
    5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
    4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
    3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
    2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 black kingh2 black king2
    1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 white rookh1 white king1
    		a b c d e f g h
    Example of Bucking Bronco mate.

    Sneaky Stallion mate

    The Sneaky Stallion mate is similar to the Bucking Bronco mate, but instead of the opponent's king being in the corner, it is on the edge of the board. The opponent's king is checkmated by a knight while the queen covers escape squares and the last escape square is blocked by its own piece.

    		a b c d e f g h
    8a8 black kingb8 black kingc8 black kingd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
    7a7 black kingb7 black kingc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black kingh7 black king7
    6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 white knightg6 black kingh6 white queen6
    5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
    4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
    3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
    2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 black kingh2 black king2
    1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 white kingh1 black king1
    		a b c d e f g h
    Example of Sneaky Stallion mate.

    Damiano's mate

    The Damiano's mate is when the opponent's king is checkmated by a queen, defended by a friendly piece. The king's potential escape squares are either controlled or blocked. This checkmate is named after Portuguese chess player Pedro Damiano.

    		a b c d e f g h
    8a8 black rookb8 black kingc8 black kingd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black kingh8 black king8
    7a7 black kingb7 black kingc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black kingg7 black pawnh7 white queen7
    6a6 black pawnb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 white pawnh6 black king6
    5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
    4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
    3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
    2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 black kingh2 black king2
    1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 white kingh1 black king1
    		a b c d e f g h
    Example of Damiano's mate.

    Lolli's mate

    The Lolli's mate is when the opponent's king on the edge is checkmated by a queen orthogonally adjacent while being defended by a friendly pawn. This checkmate is named after Italian chess player Giambattista Lolli.

    		a b c d e f g h
    8a8 black kingb8 black kingc8 black queend8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
    7a7 black kingb7 black kingc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black pawng7 white queenh7 black pawn7
    6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 white pawng6 black kingh6 black king6
    5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
    4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
    3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
    2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 white pawnh2 black king2
    1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 white kingh1 black king1
    		a b c d e f g h
    Example of Lolli's mate.

    Blind swine mate

    The blind swine mate is when the opponent's king is on their home rank and is checkmated by a rook on the 7th rank defended by another rook on the 7th rank which also controls a key flight square while the last square for the opponent's king is occupied by a piece.

    		a b c d e f g h
    8a8 black rookb8 black kingc8 black kingd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black rookg8 black kingh8 black king8
    7a7 black kingb7 black kingc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black kingg7 white rookh7 white rook7
    6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
    5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
    4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
    3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
    2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 black kingh2 black king2
    1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 white kingh1 black king1
    		a b c d e f g h
    Example of blind swine mate.

    Smothered mate

    A smothered mate is when the opponent's king (that is, the one getting checkmated) is unable to move, because it is trapped by its own friendly pieces.

    Scholar's mate

    This checkmate is when the queen checkmates the king on e8, with the queen being on f7 whilst it being defended by the bishop on c4. This type of checkmate is usually played by beginner players.

    Illustration
    An example of a Scholar's mate

    Fool's mate

    This checkmate is the fastest checkmate possible in chess, and can happen in just two moves by black. Similar moves by white may take place, but it can happen, for example, as shown in the gif, where white plays g4, with black responding with e5, white then plays f3??, allowing black's queen to checkmate the king.

    Illustration
    An animation of a possible fool's mate sequence.

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