The basics · 5 lessons
Mating patterns
Mates come in recognisable shapes. Know the patterns and you will spot them in your games.
- Smothered mate A knight mates a king hemmed in by its own pieces.
- Anastasia's mate A knight and a rook trap the king on the edge, behind its own pawn.
- The Arabian mate A rook next to the cornered king, protected by a knight.
- Boden's mate Two bishops on crossing diagonals mate a king that has castled long.
- Légal's mate A queen sacrifice that a greedy opponent cannot refuse.