TACTICAL PATTERNS
Checkmate Patterns
A collection of instructive exercises that
illustrate 40 common checkmate patterns.
CHESSFOX.COM
Exercise 1
A checkmate pattern is a typical & recognizable
arrangement of pieces that deliver checkmate.
Learning these patterns can help you identify
more checkmate opportunities in your games.
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
(The solution is on the next page.)
Exercise 1 - Solution
Pattern: 2 Bishops Endgame Mate
● 1.Be3+ Kh7 2.Bd3+ Kh8 3.Bd4#
This checkmate pattern Illustrates the typical
coordination between a king and two bishops
required to force checkmate in a corner.
Exercise 2
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Note:
This checkmate can only work if your opponent
makes a mistake because a king and 2 knights
typically can’t force the enemy king into a corner.
Exercise 2 - Solution
Pattern: 2 Knights Endgame Mate
● 1.Ng5+ Kh8? 2.Ng6#
● 1.Ng5+ Kh6 would lead to a draw as long as
the black king avoids the a corner.
Exercise 3
Black to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 3 - Solution
Pattern: Anastasia’s Mate
● 1... Qh5+ 2.gxh5 Rh4#
The main feature of Anastasia’s Mate is the
placement of the knight that prevents the king’s
escape.
Exercise 4
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 4 - Solution
Pattern: Anderssen’s Mate
● 1.Rh2+ Kg8 2.Rh8#
Anderssen’s Mate is a checkmate pattern that
features a rook, supported by a pawn, as it
checkmates the opposing king along the eighth
rank from the corner.
Exercise 5
Black to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 5 - Solution
Pattern: Arabian Mate
● 1... Qxh2+ 2.Rxh2 Rg1#
The Arabian Mate is a checkmate pattern that
features the unique abilities of a knight (horse)
with the help of a rook.
Exercise 6
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 6 - Solution
Pattern: Back Rank Mate
● 1.Re8#
The Back Rank Mate becomes possible when a
king is trapped behind its own pawn shield. In
this example the potential escape-square (g7) is
covered by the bishop on b2.
Exercise 7
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 7 - Solution
Pattern: Balestra Mate
● 1.Qd6+ Kc8 2.Ba6#
The Balestra Mate is a checkmate pattern that
demonstrates optimal coordination between a
queen and bishop, where the bishop is the piece
that performs the final check.
Exercise 8
Black to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 8 - Solution
Pattern: Blackburne’s Mate
● 1... Qxh3+ 2.gxh3 Bxe4#
Blackburne’s Mate is a less common checkmate
pattern that demonstrates perfect coordination
between 2 bishops and a knight against a
castled king.
Exercise 9
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 9 - Solution
Pattern: Blind Swine Mate
● 1.Rg7+ Kh8 2.Rxh7+ Kg8 3.Rdg7#
The Blind Swine Mate demonstrates the power
of two connected rooks on the 7th rank.
Exercise 10
Black to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 10 - Solution
Pattern: Boden’s Mate
● 1... Qxc3+ 2.bxc3 Ba3#
Boden’s Mate demonstrates the power of two
bishops that coordinate on open diagonals.
Exercise 11
Black to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 11 - Solution
Pattern: Corner Mate
● 1... Qxf1+ 2.Bxf1 Nf2#
As its name suggests, Corner Mate is a mating
pattern against an enemy king that is trapped in
a corner.
Exercise 12
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 12 - Solution
Pattern: Corridor Mate
● 1.Qc2+ Qc3 2.Qxc3+ Bc4 3.Qxc4#
The Corridor Mate is reached when the enemy
king is trapped along a rank, file or diagonal. As
the example illustrates, the black king appears to
be trapped in a corridor along the c-file.
Exercise 13
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 13 - Solution
Pattern: Diagonal Corridor Mate
● 1.Rb8+ Rg8 2.Be5#
The features of this pattern is similar to the
previous one. However, in this case the king is
trapped on a diagonal, instead of on a file.
Exercise 14
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 14 - Solution
Pattern: Cozio’s Mate (Dovetail Mate)
● 1.Qh7+ Kg4 2.Qh3#
Cozio’s Mate was originally a study published by
Carlos Cozio, an Italian chess player from the
18th century. The final mating pattern visually
resembles a dovetail.
Exercise 15
Black to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 15 - Solution
Pattern: Damiano’s Mate
● 1... Rh1+ 2.Kxh1 Qh8+ 3.Kg1 Qh2#
Damiano’s Mate is performed by a queen and
pawn (or bishop) against a castled king. An
important feature of this mate is that the pawn on
g3 also covers the escape-square, f2.
Exercise 16
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 16 - Solution
Pattern: David and Goliath Mate
● 1.Qf7+ Qxf7 2.exf7#
The David and Goliath Mate is a characterized
by the fact that a humble pawn delivers the final
check!
Exercise 17
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 17 - Solution
Pattern: Epaulette Mate
● 1.Rxh5+ gxh5 2.Qf6#
The Epaulette Mate resembles the visual
appearance of an ornamental shoulder piece
sometimes worn by elite military personnel.
Exercise 18
Black to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 18 - Solution
Pattern: Fool’s Mate (2-move Checkmate)
● 1... Qh4#
The Fool’s Mate (also known as the 2-move
checkmate) is the quickest possible checkmate
pattern in chess. The usual move order would be
1.f3 e5 2.g4?? Qh4#
Exercise 19
Black to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 19 - Solution
Pattern: Greco’s Mate
● 1... Ng3+ 2.hxg3 Qh5#
The main feature of Greco’s Mate is that a bishop
traps the enemy king in a corner.
Exercise 20
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 20 - Solution
Pattern: H-file Mate
● 1.Rxg6+ hxg6 2.Rh8#
A common strategy in chess is to destroy the
pawn-shield in front of an enemy king (often by
means of a sacrifice). Various mating ideas can
become possible as a result of the open h-file.
Exercise 21
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 21 - Solution
Pattern: Hook Mate
● 1.Ng6 dbl+ Kh7 2.Rh8#
The Hook Mate is a very instructive pattern and it
demonstrates optimal coordination between a
rook and knight. The knight supports the rook in
a pattern that visually resembles a hook.
Exercise 22
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 22 - Solution
Pattern: Kill Box Mate
● 1.Qc6+ Ka7 2.Ra8#
● 1.Rc6+? Ka7 and black survives.
● 1.Qe3+? Kb7 and black survives.
A queen and rook can squeeze the enemy king
into a box, resulting in the Kill Box Mate.
Exercise 23
Black to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 23 - Solution
Pattern: Knight and Bishop Endgame Mate
● 1... Bh3 2.Kh1 Bg2+ 3.Kg1 Ne2# (or Nh3#).
This position illustrates the final moments of how
you can typically execute checkmate with a king,
bishop and knight. Note that the enemy king is
trapped in a corner that the bishop can attack.
Exercise 24
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 24 - Solution
Pattern: King and Rook Endgame Mate
● 1.Re7 Kg8 2.Re8#
King and Rook vs King is a common endgame
situation. Therefore, it is very important to learn
how to execute this checkmate..
Exercise 25
Black to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 25 - Solution
Pattern: Lawn Mower Mate
● 1... Rg4+ 2.Kc3 Rh3+ 3.Kd2 Rg2+ 4.Ke1
Rh1#
The Lawn Mower Mate is performed by a queen
and rook (or just 2 rooks). It is one of the first
checkmate methods a beginner should learn.
Exercise 26
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 26 - Solution
Pattern: Légal’s Mate
● 1.Nxe5 Bxd1? 2.Bxf7+ Ke7 3.Nd5#
● 1.Nxe5 dxe5 2.Qxg4 and white is ahead.
Légal’s Mate is named after the French chess
player, Sire de Légal (1702–1792). He surprised
his opponents a few times with this idea.
Exercise 27
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 27 - Solution
Pattern: Lolli’s Mate
● 1.f6 (threatening Qxg7#) g6 2.Qh6 and
black cannot prevent 3.Qg7#
Lolli’s Mate named after Giambattista Lolli, an
Italian chess player from the 18th century. It is a
common mate performed by a queen and pawn.
Exercise 28
Black to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 28 - Solution
Pattern: Max Lange’s Mate
● 1... Bg1+ 2.Kh1 Bf2+! 3.Kh2 Qg1#
Max Lange’s Mate demonstrates perfect
coordination between a queen and bishop. The
pattern is named after a German chess player
from late 19th century, Max Lange.
Exercise 29
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 29 - Solution
Pattern: Mayet’s Mate
● 1.Qd8+ Bxd8 2.Re8#
Mayet’s Mate occurs when a rook is placed right
next to the enemy king is supported by a distant
bishop. The king is further obstructed by his own
pieces. It is visually similar to the Opera Mate.
Exercise 30
Black to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 30 - Solution
Pattern: Morphy’s Mate
● 1... Rg8+ 2.Kh1 Bf3#
● 1... Bf3? 2.Rfe1 allows the white king to
escape via the f1-square.
Morphy’s Mate features a checkmate done with
a bishop and rook. It’s named after Paul Morphy.
Exercise 31
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 31 - Solution
Pattern: Opera Mate
● 1.Qb8+ Nxb8 2.Rd8#
The Opera Mate refers to a mating pattern that
the legendary Paul Morphy used against the
Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard at an
opera house in Paris, 1858.
Exercise 32
Black to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 32 - Solution
Pattern: Pillsbury’s Mate
● 1... Rg8+ 2.Kh1 Bg2+ 3.Kg1 Bf3# (or Be4#)
The main feature of Pillsbury’s Mate the bishop
that prevents the enemy king from moving into
the corner.
Exercise 33
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 33 - Solution
Pattern: Railroad Mate
● 1.Rh5+ Kg6 2.Qf5+ Kg7 3.Rxh7+ Kg8
4.Qf7#
The Railroad Mate is a mating technique that
resembles an unstoppable train moving along a
rail.
Exercise 34
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 34 - Solution
Pattern: Reti’s Mate
● 1.Bd8#
A distinct feature of Reti’s Mate is that the bishop
also covers the escape-square (in this case b6)
through its X-Ray ability.
Exercise 35
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 35 - Solution
Pattern: Scholar’s Mate (4-Move Checkmate)
● 1.Qxf7# is a mate often reached after the
moves 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6?
Qxf7#
The pattern is known as the Scholar’s Mate as it
is a common occurrence among beginners.
Exercise 36
Black to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 36 - Solution
Pattern: Smothered Mate
● 1... Nh3 dbl+ 2.Kh1 Qg1+ 3.Rxg1 Nf2#
Smothered Mate is a checkmate pattern that is
only possible if the enemy king is completely
surrounded by his own pieces. It also features
the unique jumping ability of the knight.
Exercise 37
Black to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 37 - Solution
Pattern: Suffocation Mate
● 1... Rg6+ 2.Qxg6 Ne2#
● 1.Ne2+? 2.Qxe2 Rg6+? Bxg6
The Suffocation Mate is a checkmate pattern
with a bishop and knight, where the knight
checks the king and the bishop suffocates him
Exercise 38
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 38 - Solution
Pattern: Swallow’s Tail Mate (Gueridon Mate)
● 1.Qg6+ Kd7 2.Qe6# (Dovetail Mate)
● 1.Qg6+ Ke7 2.Qe6# (Swallow Tail Mate)
● 1.Qg6+ Rf7 2.Qxf7# (Scholar’s Mate)
The Swallow’s Tail Mate visually resembles the
appearance of a swallow’s tail.
Exercise 39
White to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 39 - Solution
Pattern: Triangle Mate
● 1.Rh5+ Kg6 2.Qf5#
Note how, in the final position, the white queen,
white rook and black pawn on g7 resemble a
triangle that encloses the black king.
Exercise 40
Black to move. Where is the checkmate?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 40 - Solution
Pattern: Vukovic Mate
● 1... Nf3+ 2.Kf1 Rf2#
● 1... g2? 2.Rg8+ Kf5 2.Kxd2
The Vukovic Mate is named after IM Vladimir
Vukovic, who showed this checkmate pattern in
his book “The Art of Attack in Chess”.
End of
TACTICAL PATTERNS
Checkmate Patterns
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