Chess Checkmate Patterns

If the opposing King can be trapped behind a pawn wall, this leads to back rank and similar mates. Your own King can be used instead of the pawn wall, in a King and Queen versus King endgame. Trapped by Rook mate:

Two Rooks or a Rook and a Queen can deliver a “stripe” pattern checkmate, where the King walked to the edge then trapped as above. This may not work or will require Rook adjustment if the King as able to attack a Rook via a diagonal. White to move (mate in two):

Unique to the Queen, trapping the King against the side of the board. The Queen requires support from something else:

Also, the Queen both attacks and supports other pieces:

I find open position mates the hardest to “see”, though these can bring a quick end to the game. An easy pattern boxes the King between your King and (supported!) Queen:

The Queen covers the horizontal, vertical, and diagonal, which leaves only two open squares for a Bishop or Knight to close. This assumes the King cannot flee from the Queen; a Rook, the board, or your King must complete the box. White to move and mate in one:

Other checkmate can be delivered where other pieces (often those belonging to the opponent) box in the King. This requires more material, should one lack a Queen. If (and only if) the opponent can move other pieces, placing the King into stalemate is a safe option, as a subsequent check usually yields checkmate. Many mate-in-2(or more) puzzles require stalemating or moving the King into a specific mate pattern. However! Crafty opponents may find ways to force stalemate, especially via sacrifices that then rob them of legal moves. For example, White has just promoted via c8=Q, and threatens mate with a supported Queen pattern. Black to move:

Note: the smothered Mate was shown in a previous entry. This method uses a Knight to deliver mate against a King trapped by his own army (and the sides of the board).

Jeremy Mates’s Blog

Chess Checkmate Patterns