Anastasia's mate is lesson 6 of 9 in Mating patterns I, a checkmate course suited to players rated around 700 (beginners). A knight covers the escape squares, the king's own pawn blocks the rest, and a rook or queen mates along the edge file. It has 7 interactive exercises: 7 calculated lines from real positions. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.
What you practise
White to move: mate in 2. (3 positions)
Black to move: mate in 2. (2 positions)
Black to move: mate in 3.
White to move: mate in 3.
Worked examples
White to move: mate in 2. 1.Rf7+ Kh6 2.Rh8#. Anastasia's mate: the rook mated on h8 along the edge, while the knight on e5 covered the escape squares. Mate in 2.
Black to move: mate in 2. 1...Ne2+ 2.Kh2 Rh6#. Anastasia's mate: the rook mated on h6 along the edge, while the knight on e2 covered the escape squares. Mate in 2.
chessGM