Mate in one: the patterns is lesson 1 of 2 in Checkmate patterns practice, a checkmate course suited to players rated around 700 (beginners). Strong players do not work out every mate from scratch. They know the shapes. Learn five of them here. It has 5 interactive exercises: 5 find-the-move puzzles. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.
What this lesson explains
A king behind its own pawns has no escape square. A rook or a queen on the last rank can then give checkmate. This is the back rank mate, the most common mate in real games.
What you practise
The black king is stuck behind its pawns, and only one rook guards the back rank. Mate in one.
A queen right next to the king is checkmate when another piece protects her and the king has no square left. Mate in one.
The black king is surrounded by its own pieces. Only a knight can give check without being blocked. Mate in one.
A rook and a knight work well together in the corner. The knight covers two key squares. The rook does the rest. Mate in one.
Here the knight on e7 takes g8 and g6, and the pawn on g7 blocks the king. Only the h-file is left. Mate in one.
Worked examples
The black king is stuck behind its pawns, and only one rook guards the back rank. Mate in one. Back rank mate. The black rook was the only guard of the last rank.
A queen right next to the king is checkmate when another piece protects her and the king has no square left. Mate in one. Mate. The king cannot take the queen, because your knight protects her, and the rook on f8 blocks the last escape.
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