Exercise 7.1Mate in 1
White to move
Mate in one.
7
Calculation in Chess · Yatish Chandra Shukla
Mating Patterns and Calculation
In this lesson you will learn
- Six mating patterns every player should know by heart
- How a known pattern shortens your calculation
- How to spot the signs that a mate may be near
- Mates in one, two and three moves
Every board on this page is live. Move the pieces by tapping or dragging, click any move in the lines to see that position, and press ↺ to start again.
7.1 Why Patterns Help Calculation
A strong player who sees a combination does not calculate every move from scratch. Very often they recognise the final position first — "this looks like a back-rank mate" — and then calculate backwards to find the moves that lead there. A pattern you know by heart gives your calculation a target.
In this chapter we meet six basic mating patterns. Study each diagram until you could set it up from memory. Then, in your games, whenever you see an enemy king with few escape squares, ask: "Which of my patterns could happen here?"
NoteIn every pattern, notice two things: the piece that gives check, and the pieces (often the defender's own!) that take away the king's escape squares.
7.2 Warning Signs
Mates do not appear from nowhere. Before a mating shows one or more of these weaknesses:
No escape square. The king is hemmed in by its ow rank mate and the smothered mate.
Missing defenders. The pieces that should protect or have been exchanged.
Open lines. A file or diagonal leading to the king ha can use it.
Your pieces nearby. Three or more of your pieces
When you see two or more of these signs together, s your checks, including sacrifices.
LessonRemember the warning signs for your own king to good time, gives your king an escape square and k
7.3 Worked Examples
Study each example as if it were a puzzle: cover the s
g combination is possible, the defending king usually
wn pawns or pieces — the starting point of the back-
t the king have gone to the other side of the board,
as been opened, and your rooks, queen or bishops
are already close to the enemy king.
stop and run a very careful CCT scan — especially all
oo. A single pawn move such as h3 or g3, made in kills the back-rank mate before it starts.
solution, calculate, and only then read on.
Diagram 7.1Black to move
Example 7.1
Black to move. Mate in one.
Find the key move.
Solution. 1...♖xd1# — the bishop on d1 was not defended. Checkmate.
Compare a natural alternative, 1...♖aa1?: after 1...♖aa1 2.♘f2 ♖xd1+ the position is about equal. That is far less than the key move achieves.
LessonA king with no escape square on the back rank is always a target. Check whether a rook or queen can reach it.
Diagram 7.2Black to move
Example 7.2
Black to move. Mate in one.
Find the key move.
Solution. 1...♖h2# Checkmate.
Compare a natural alternative, 1...b2?: after 1...b2 2.♗b4+ ♔g7 Black is winning. That is far less than the key move achieves.
LessonWhen the enemy king has few escape squares, look at every check — even the ones that give away material.
Diagram 7.3White to move
Example 7.3
White to move. Mate in one.
Find the key move.
Solution. 1.♗a5# Checkmate.
Compare a natural alternative, 1.♘e6+?: after 1.♘e6+ ♖xe6 2.♗a5+ White is winning. That is far less than the key move achieves.
LessonWhen the enemy king has few escape squares, look at every check — even the ones that give away material.
Diagram 7.4Black to move
Example 7.4
Black to move. Mate in 2.
Find the key move.
Solution. 1...♕xc1+ 2.♗d1 ♕xd1# — the rook on c1 was not defended. Checkmate.
Compare a natural alternative, 1...♖a1?: after 1...♖a1 2.♖d1 b2 Black is winning. That is far less than the key move achieves.
LessonA king with no escape square on the back rank is always a target. Check whether a rook or queen can reach it.
Diagram 7.5White to move
Example 7.5
White to move. Mate in one.
Find the key move.
Solution. 1.♕xg7# Checkmate.
Compare a natural alternative, 1.♘b4?: after 1.♘b4 ♕d7 2.♘xd3 White is winning. That is far less than the key move achieves.
LessonMaterial can be given away when the result has been calculated to the end. Count at the end of the line, not after the first move.
Diagram 7.6White to move
Example 7.6
White to move. Mate in one.
Find the key move.
Solution. 1.♕xf7# Checkmate.
Compare a natural alternative, 1.♘xc7+?: after 1.♘xc7+ ♔d7 2.♘xa8 White is winning. That is far less than the key move achieves.
LessonLook for squares from which one piece attacks two targets at the same time — especially with check.
Diagram 7.7White to move
Example 7.7
White to move. Mate in one.
Find the key move.
Solution. 1.♕xc7# Checkmate.
Compare a natural alternative, 1.♘xa7+?: after 1.♘xa7+ ♔b6 2.♕xc7+ White is winning. That is far less than the key move achieves.
LessonLook for squares from which one piece attacks two targets at the same time — especially with check.
Diagram 7.8White to move
Example 7.8
White to move. Mate in 2.
Find the key move.
Solution. 1.♕c5+ ♔f6 2.♕d6# Checkmate.
Compare a natural alternative, 1.♕c7+?: after 1.♕c7+ ♔e6 2.♕xd2 White is winning. That is far less than the key move achieves.
LessonLook for squares from which one piece attacks two targets at the same time — especially with check.
Diagram 7.9White to move
Example 7.9
White to move. Mate in 3.
Find the key move.
Solution. 1.♘e8+ ♔h7 2.♖2f7+ ♕g7 3.♖xg7# Checkmate.
Compare a natural alternative, 1.h6+?: after 1.h6+ ♔xf8 2.♘d7+ White is winning. That is far less than the key move achieves.
LessonWhen the enemy king has few escape squares, look at every check — even the ones that give away material.
Diagram 7.10Black to move
Example 7.10
Black to move. Mate in 3.
Find the key move.
Solution. 1...♕xf3+ 2.♔g1 ♖e2+ 3.♕c5 ♗xc5# Checkmate.
LessonMaterial can be given away when the result has been calculated to the end. Count at the end of the line, not after the first move.
Remember
- Know the six patterns by heart: back rank, supported queen, two-rook ladder, smothered mate, rook and knight, queen and bishop.
- A pattern gives your calculation a target: picture the final position, then find the moves that lead there.
- Watch for the warning signs: no escape square, missing defenders, open lines, attackers nearby.
- Near the enemy king, look at every check — especially sacrifices.
Exercises · Lesson 7
Every puzzle in this chapter ends in checkmate. Before you calculate, try to recognise which pattern the final position will be.
Exercise 7.2Mate in 1
White to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.3Mate in 1
Black to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.4Mate in 1
Black to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.5Mate in 1
White to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.6Mate in 1
White to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.7Mate in 1
Black to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.8Mate in 1
White to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.9Mate in 2
White to move
Mate in 2.
Exercise 7.10Mate in 1
Black to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.11Mate in 1
White to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.12Mate in 1
White to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.13Mate in 1
Black to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.14Mate in 2
Black to move
Mate in 2.
Exercise 7.15Mate in 1
Black to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.16Mate in 1
White to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.17Mate in 2
White to move
Mate in 2.
Exercise 7.18Mate in 1
Black to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.19Mate in 1
White to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.20Mate in 1
White to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.21Mate in 1
White to move
Mate in one.
Exercise 7.22Mate in 2
White to move
Mate in 2.
Exercise 7.23Mate in 2
Black to move
Mate in 2.
Exercise 7.24Mate in 2
White to move
Mate in 2.
Exercise 7.25Mate in 2
Black to move
Mate in 2.
Exercise 7.26Mate in 3
White to move
Mate in 3.
Exercise 7.27Mate in 3
Black to move
Mate in 3.
Exercise 7.28Mate in 3
Black to move
Mate in 3.
Exercise 7.29Mate in 3
White to move
Mate in 3.
Exercise 7.30Mate in 3
Black to move
Mate in 3.