Raf Mesotten

The Checkmate Patterns Manual

The Ultimate Guide to Winning in Chess

This book is also available as an online Move Trainer

and Video course at Chessable.com

New In Chess 2022

Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Explanation of symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

EXERCISES A Basic test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

CHAPTERS Checkmate patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Chapter 1 Anastasia’s mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Chapter 2 Greco’s mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Chapter 3 Arabian mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Chapter 4 Hook mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Chapter 5 Vukovic’s mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Chapter 6 Smothered mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Chapter 7 Suffocation mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Chapter 8 Corner mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Chapter 9 Morphy’s mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Chapter 10 Pillsbury’s mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Chapter 11 Opera mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Chapter 12 Lolli’s mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Chapter 13 Damiano’s mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Chapter 14 Max Lange’s mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Chapter 15 Damiano’s bishop mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Chapter 16 Dovetail mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Chapter 17 Swallow’s tail mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Chapter 18 David & Goliath mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Chapter 19 Boden’s mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Chapter 20 Balestra mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Chapter 21 Double knights mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Chapter 22 Double bishops mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Chapter 23 Blackburne’s mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Chapter 24 Blind swine mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Chapter 25 Epaulette mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Chapter 26 Back rank mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Chapter 27 Lawnmower mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Chapter 28 Triangle mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Chapter 29 Kill box mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Chapter 30 Mate in the opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Exercises B Warming up test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

Exercises C Advanced test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Exercises D Final test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285

Solutions A Basic test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305

Solutions B Warming up test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Solutions C Advanced test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Solutions D Final test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359

Afterword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Index of mate names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Introduction

The chapters
This book starts with a basic test (A), then there are 30 checkmate
pattern chapters, 1 warming up test, 1 advanced test and 1 final test.

The point of doing the basic test first before you are given any
instruction is not to solve all of the exercises correctly the first
time, although if you do, that’s great. The idea here is to help you
identify which patterns you struggle with first. The names of the 30
checkmate patterns chapters and the informational sections are
based on various sources I could find. My main sources were www.
chessgames.com, www.wikipedia.org and www.chesstempo.com.

Each of these 30 chapters has one or more short but instructive

informational sections to give you an idea how a certain checkmate
pattern can be executed. I based these sections on similarities
that I saw among the many thousands of games I looked at. I do
not claim that these are the only possibilities that lead to a certain
type of checkmate. I mainly want to inspire you. The informational
sections are followed by exercises, to put what has been learned
into practice.

The warming up test (B) chapter contains over 200 exercises, to

practice all you have learned in the 30 checkmate pattern chapters.
These are especially interesting for beginners and casual players,
but these can also serve for intermediate players as a warm-up.
More than 80% of these exercises are mate-in-2 or mate-in-3.

The advanced test (C) contains nearly 300 exercises, and takes
all you have learned one step further. These exercises may be too
hard for beginners and casual players, they can be challenging for
intermediate players but also interesting for advanced players. More
than 75% of these exercises are mate-in-3, mate-in-4 or mate-in-5.

The final test (D) contains 100 of the hardest exercises in this book.

7
The Checkmate Patterns Manual

The exercises
The title of each exercise is the game on which it’s based. This
does not necessarily mean that the original game went exactly
the same! Each exercise starts at the moment the game can
be ended with one of the checkmate patterns I describe in this
course. Every solution is headed with the name of the checkmate
pattern on which that exercise is based. In order to collect enough
quality exercises for each pattern within a pattern, I sometimes
took examples where e.g. a queen (only using her diagonal ability)
replaced a bishop. I decided not to mention this in any of the
chapters, because it would complicate the basic patterns too much.

Mate-in-X and alternative moves

I tried to avoid using games with a dense forest of variations and
lots of alternative moves. Each exercise has one correct solution,
and possibly a few alternative moves. The correct solution is
(unless otherwise stated) the shortest possible mating sequence:
a mate-in-X. The following types of moves are NOT accepted as
an alternative move in this book: 1. the unnecessary repetition of
moves, even if it is a mate-in-X according to engines; 2. mate-in-2,
mate-in-3,... in case there is a mate-in-1; 3. silent moves that
unnecessarily prolong the game, after which the game would still
end with the same checkmate pattern as the shortest possible
mating sequence; 4. moves that will lead to checkmate in more
than 15 moves (with best play from both sides). This is a book about
checkmate patterns, not about ‘finding a good move’. All solutions
have been checked with an engine. If you believe that something
isn’t correct, please contact us. Feel free to use an engine to better
understand the solutions of the most difficult exercises.

Word of thanks
More than 6,000 students have purchased the online Move Trainer
and/or the Video Course on Chessable.com. This immense success
has made it possible to publish this physical copy. I want to thank
each of you for your support. Thanks to Peter Boel, skkeyan and
superlychee for their fantastic testing work which considerably
raised the level of the course in terms of content, usability and
linguistics. And special thanks to my girlfriend Tania, for the patience
she had during the 500+ hours I spent on making the course.

Raf Mesotten a.k.a. CraftyRaf

8
CHAPTER 5

Vukovic’s mate
In Vukovic’s mate, a protected rook delivers checkmate to the
king at the edge of the board, while a knight covers the remaining
escape squares of the king. The rook is usually protected by the
king or a pawn. The mated king, the rook and knight are lined up
next to each other.

Vukovic’s mate often arises from drawish positions in the endgame,

where one of the players makes one crucial mistake that eventually
costs him the game.

Vladimir Vukovic (1898-1975) was a Croatian chess writer,

theoretician, player, arbiter and journalist. In his book The Art
of Attack in Chess, Vukovic devoted a whole chapter to mating
patterns.

Vukovic’s mate 1
Often, Vukovic’s mate is preceded by rook and/or knight checks.

8
._._M_._ 8
._._M_._
7
_.r._._. 7
_._.r._.
6
._._.k._ 6
._._Nk._
5
_T_T_N_. 5
_T_T_._.
4
._._._._ 4
._._._._
3
_._._._. 3
_._._._.
2
._._._._ 2
._._._._
1

†
_._._._. 1
_._._._.
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

1.♘g7+ ♔d8 2.♘e6+ ♔e8 3.♖e7#

45
The Checkmate Patterns Manual

Game 42  Game 44 

Danek – Hanuliak Gueci – Balaian
2001 2013

8
._T_._._ 8
._._._._
7
_._._._. 7
_L_._._.
6
._._._._ 6
J_._._._
5
_._._K_M 5
_J_.iM_J
4
._._N_R_ 4
._._.s._
3
_._._._I 3
_._._.k.
2
._._._._ 2
IiT_._._
1

†
_._._._. 1
_.b._R_.
a b c d e f g h „ a b c d e f g h

67.♘f6+ ♔h6 68.♖g6# 39...♖g2+ 40.♔h4 ♖g4#

Game 43  Game 45 

Antipov – Najer Tschendel – Birdaini
2015 1998

8
M_._._._ 8
._._._._
7
_._N_._. 7
i._._R_.
6
I_._._J_ 6
._._._._
5
_I_.s._J 5
_._._._.
4
._._.j._ 4
._._._S_
3
_._._._. 3
_._._Jm.
2
.kR_._._ 2
T_._._._
1

†
_._.t._. 1
_R_._.k.
a b c d e f g h „ a b c d e f g h

60.♖c8+ ♔a7 61.♖c7+ ♔a8 52...♖g2+ 53.♔f1

62.♘b6+ ♔b8 63.♖b7# 53.♔h1 leads to a faster
checkmate: 53...♘f2#.
53...♘e3+ 54.♔e1 ♖e2#

46
 Chapter 5 – Vukovic’s mate

Vukovic’s mate 2
Sometimes, Vukovic’s mate is preceded by subtle pawn or king
moves, to catch the enemy king in a mating net.

8
._._M_._ 8
._._M_._
7
_._._.r. 7
_._.r._.
6
._._N_Jj 6
._._NkJj
5
_._._J_. 5
_._._J_.
4
._._.k._ 4
._._._._
3
_._._J_T 3
_._._._T
2
._._._._ 2
._._._._
1

†
_._._._. 1
_._._D_.
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

1.♔e5 f2 2.♔f6 f1♕ 3.♖e7#

47
The Checkmate Patterns Manual

Game 46  If 83.♔e5 ♖e1+ 84.♔f6 ♖xe7

Kingscrusher – kingstar70 Black can trade rooks. After a
2019
few more moves, White can
8
._._._.m promote to a queen on d8 and
win the game quickly.
7
r._._._. 83...♗f5 84.♖c7#
6
._._.k._
5
_._._._. Game 48 
4
._._.iN_ Torre – Ljubojevic
1976
3
_._._._I
2
Jt._._._ 8
._._._M_
1
_._._._. 7
_R_._._.
† a b c d e f g h 6
._._._._
46.♔g6 a1♕
46...♖b6+ 47.♘f6 doesn’t help
5
_._NkN_J
Black.
4
.i._J_._
47.♖h7+ ♔g8 48.♘f6+ ♔f8 3
_.i._T_.
49.♖f7# 2
._._.t._
Game 47 
Lancel – Bain
1

†
_._._._.
a b c d e f g h
1963
41.♘f6+ ♔f8
8
._M_._._ If 41...♔h8 the game will end in
an Arabian mate via 42.♖h7#.
7
_._.r._. 42.♔e6 ♖xf5 43.♖f7#
6
.j._._J_
5
jN_I_._.
4
._J_.kIj
3
_.iL_._I
2
._._._._
1

†
_T_._._.
a b c d e f g h

80.♘a7+ ♔d8
80...♔b8 doesn’t make any
difference, all other moves
remain the same.
81.♘c6+ ♔c8 82.d6 ♖f1+ 83.♔g5

48
 Chapter 5 – Vukovic’s mate

Game 49  51.♔g6 keeps Black in the game

Spassky – Larsen after 51...♗h5+ 52.♘xh5 ♖g5+!!
1968
53.♔xg5 f1♕ 54.♖f7+ ♕xf7
8
._.t.m._ 55.exf7 ♔xf7.
51.♔g6 ♗h5+ 52.♔h6 is even
7
_R_._._. better for Black after 52...♖e5.
6
._._.n._ 51.♘xd5 fails to 51...f1♕. Best for
5
j._Ii.k. White in this position is to draw
by perpetual check: 52.♖b8+
4
._._._._ ♔g7 53.♖b7+ ♔f8.
3
_._._._I 51...♖h5+
51...♗h5 seems to be a slightly
2
._._.j._ better defense, after which
1

†
_._L_._. White needs to queen the pawn
a b c d e f g h in order to checkmate the black
50.e6 ♖xd5+ 51.♔h6 king with rook and queen.
52.♔g6 f1♕ 53.♖f7#

49
CHAPTER 18

David & Goliath mate

In the David & Goliath mate, a protected pawn delivers checkmate.
It doesn’t matter how possible escape squares of the king are
covered or blocked.

Its name is taken from the biblical account of David & Goliath.
The phrase ‘David & Goliath’ today indicates a situation where the
underdog (a pawn) beats a much stronger opponent (the king).

David & Goliath mate 1

Most of the times the David & Goliath mate is preceded by a
sacrifice. If the sacrifice is accepted, a pawn will take (immediately
or delayed) and checkmate the king.

8
.d._.tM_ 8
.d._.t.m
7
_T_._J_J 7
_T_._JiJ
6
._._SiJq 6
._._._Jn
5
_._._._. 5
_._._._.
4
._._._N_ 4
._._._._
3
_._._._. 3
_._._._.
2
.b._._._ 2
.b._._._
1

†
_K_._._. 1
_K_._._.
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

1.♕g7+ ♘xg7 2.♘h6+ ♔h8

3.fxg7#

121
 The Checkmate Patterns Manual

Game 160  Game 162 

Mlotkowski – Deacon Juhasz – Bors
1913 2002

8
TsLd._Mt 8
._T_.tM_
7
jJj._.jJ 7
_J_._Jl.
6
._._I_.s 6
._.i._L_
5
_._J_.nQ 5
_I_.s._I
4
._._J_._ 4
J_._._._
3
b.i._._. 3
i.nJiD_.
2
I_I_.iIi 2
Qb.k.i._
1

†
r._.kB_R 1
_N_._R_R
a b c d e f g h „ a b c d e f g h

11.♕f7+ ♘xf7 12.exf7# 30...♕e2+

A beautiful queen sacrifice.
31.♘xe2
Game 161  31.♔c1 ♕c2# (Lolli’s mate).
Külaots – Levin 31...♖c2+
2006
The white pieces are completely
8
T_._._._ out of coordination, mate is
inevitable.
7
_._._.r. 32.♔e1
6
JjMdTs.b 32.♔d1 dxe2+ 33.♔e1 ♘d3/f3#.
5
_.jJ_._J 32...♘f3+ 33.♔d1 dxe2#
4
I_._._.s
3
_.n._._.
2
._._._._
1

†
_Q_R_K_.
a b c d e f g h

33.♕b5+ axb5 34.axb5#

122
 Chapter 18 – David & Goliath mate

David & Goliath mate 2

Sometimes, a David & Goliath mate is preceded by a sacrifice to
remove or distract the defender of the square on which a pawn will
deliver checkmate (immediately or later in the game).

8
.d._._S_ 8
.d._._S_
7
_T_._J_M 7
_._._T_M
6
._._._._ 6
._._._I_
5
_._._.iI 5
_._._._I
4
._._._N_ 4
._._._N_
3
_._._._. 3
_._._._.
2
Qb._._._ 2
.b._._._
1

†
_K_._._. 1
_K_._._.
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

1.♕xf7+ ♖xf7 2.g6#

123
The Checkmate Patterns Manual

Game 163  Game 165 

Kveinys – Krylov Bittencourt Filho – Dianda
2000 1995

8
._._._._ 8
._._Tt._
7
t._._._J 7
j._._.j.
6
._J_.qJ_ 6
B_J_Q_._
5
_._.nJ_M 5
_.d._.m.
4
._._J_.i 4
._._.j._
3
_._.d._. 3
i._._._.
2
J_._.rIk 2
._._._Ii
1

†
_._._._. 1

†
_._.rK_R
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

48.♖xf5+ gxf5 49.♕xf5+ ♔h6 28.h4+ ♔h5 29.♗e2+ f3 30.g4#

50.♕f6+ ♔h5 51.g4#

Game 164 
Niemzowitsch – Neumann
1899

T_L_._St
8 8

7
jJdM_BlJ
6
._Jj._._
5
_._.i.b.
4
._.s._._
3
_._I_._.
2
IiI_.qIi
1

†
r._._Rk.
a b c d e f g h

16.♕f5+ ♘xf5 17.e6#

124
 Chapter 18 – David & Goliath mate

David & Goliath mate 3

Sometimes, a David & Goliath mate is preceded by a queen or rook
sacrifice to force the opponent to put one of his pieces on a square
that should have served as a flight square for the king later in the
game.

8
._Tl._R_ 8
._T_._R_
7
_._._._. 7
_._._._.
6
._._._._ 6
._._._._
5
_.d._._M 5
_.d._._M
4
.r._._._ 4
._._._Il
3
_._._.i. 3
_._._._.
2
._._._._ 2
._._._._
1

†
_Kb._._. 1
_Kb._._.
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

1.♖h4+ ♗xh4 2.g4#

125
The Checkmate Patterns Manual

Game 166  Game 168 

Karpov – Mickiewicz Seidman – Soltis
1997 1968

8
._._.t.t 8
.r._._._
7
_J_._._. 7
_._._._.
6
J_J_.j._ 6
J_M_._J_
5
_.i.lIjM 5
_._J_T_.
4
._._R_._ 4
._.i._K_
3
_._._.iI 3
_.i._._I
2
I_.b._K_ 2
.i._T_._
1

†
_._R_._. 1
_._B_._.
a b c d e f g h „ a b c d e f g h

47.♖h4+ gxh4 48.g4# 44...♖g2+ 45.♔h4 ♖h5+ 46.♗xh5

g5#

Game 167 
Petrosian – Minasian
2006

8
T_L_.t._
7
jJ_._JsI
6
.dJ_.b.m
5
_._._R_.
4
._._._I_
3
_._B_._.
2
IiI_._.i
1

†
r._._._K
a b c d e f g h

29.♖h5+ ♘xh5 30.g5#

126
 Chapter 18 – David & Goliath mate

David & Goliath mate 4

Sometimes, a David & Goliath mate is preceded by a sacrifice
to open a file or rank for a rook. It allows the rook to cover more
escape squares of the king and/or support the pawn that delivers
checkmate.

8
D_._.tMl 8
D_._.tMl
7
_R_._J_. 7
_R_._._I
6
._._._.i 6
._._._J_
5
_._._._. 5
_._._._.
4
._._._._ 4
._._._._
3
_._._._. 3
_._._._.
2
._Q_._._ 2
._._._._
1

†
_K_._._. 1
_K_._._.
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

1.♕g6+ fxg6 2.h7#

127
The Checkmate Patterns Manual

Game 169  Game 171 

Glücksberg – Najdorf Pecori – Ambrus
1935 2008

8
T_._.tM_ 8
Q_._._._
7
jJ_._.jJ 7
_._Lm._.
6
._J_._S_ 6
._._.j._
5
_._J_.n. 5
_._.j._.
4
._I_.iK_ 4
._I_I_J_
3
_._B_.i. 3
j._J_Di.
2
Ii._._.d 2
.i._.i.t
1
r.bQ_Rn. 1
_._BkR_.
„ a b c d e f g h „ a b c d e f g h

21...♘e5+ 22.fxe5 h5# 42...♕e3+ 43.fxe3 d2#

Game 170 
Mendoza – Garcia
2000

8
._._._._
7
_._._Jm.
6
._J_._J_
5
j.sJ_.i.
4
.t._.iL_
3
iIkB_._.
2
._I_._.t
1
_.n.rR_.
„ a b c d e f g h

28...♘a4+ 29.bxa4 d4#

128
 Chapter 18 – David & Goliath mate

David & Goliath mate 5

Sometimes, a David & Goliath mate is preceded by a sacrifice to lure
the king to a certain square.

8
._._.l._ 8
._._.lM_
7
_D_._J_M 7
_D_._J_I
6
._._._.i 6
._._._._
5
_._._._. 5
_._._._.
4
.t._._._ 4
.t._._._
3
_._._._. 3
_._._._.
2
.b._._Q_ 2
.b._._._
1

†
_K_._._R 1
_K_._._R
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

1.♕g8+ ♔xg8 2.h7#

129
The Checkmate Patterns Manual

Game 172  Game 174 

Busnardo – NN Korpa – Nguyen
1590 2014

8
T_L_._St 8
.t._.t._
7
jJjM_.dJ 7
j.r._._J
6
.lSj._._ 6
.j._.sJm
5
_._.j.bQ 5
_._D_J_.
4
._BiI_._ 4
._._._I_
3
_.i._._. 3
_I_.iQ_.
2
Ii._.iIi 2
I_._.i.i
1

†
rN_._Rk. 1

†
_._._.k.
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

12.♗e6+ ♔xe6 13.♕e8+ ♘ge7 26.g5+ ♔xg5 27.h4+

14.d5# A last sacrifice of a pawn before
the mate.
27...♔xh4
Game 173  27...♔h6 28.♕f4+ ♔h5 29.♕g5#.
Kofidis – Voiska 28.♕g3+ ♔h5 29.♕h3+ ♔g5
1992
30.f4#
8
T_._DtS_
7
l._L_.m.
6
J_.j.sI_
5
_J_.j._Q
4
._J_._._
3
_.i._.rI
2
IiBb.iNk
1

†
_._._.r.
a b c d e f g h

29.♕h8+ ♔xh8 30.g7#

130
 Chapter 18 – David & Goliath mate

David & Goliath mate 6

Sometimes, a David & Goliath mate is preceded by a quiet move
in order to prevent the enemy king from escaping out of a mating
net. A quiet move is a move which does not alter material (thus no
captures nor promotions) and doesn’t give a check.

8
._._._R_ 8
._._._R_
7
d._J_._. 7
d._J_._.
6
.t.i.n.m 6
._.i.n.m
5
_.j._._. 5
_.j._.i.
4
._._._._ 4
._._._._
3
iN_._Ji. 3
iT_._J_.
2
.i._.i._ 2
.i._.i._
1

†
_K_._._. 1
_K_._._.
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

1.g4 ♖xb3 2.g5#

131
The Checkmate Patterns Manual

Game 175  Game 177 

Sallay – Honfi Chow – Hamilton
1973 2002

8
._._._._ 8
._._._M_
7
_._._._. 7
_._._J_.
6
._._._.j 6
.j._._._
5
_._._J_M 5
_.lLi.jJ
4
._._.k._ 4
._._._._
3
_._._.iJ 3
_I_T_.iK
2
Jb._._._ 2
Ir.r._.i
1

†
_._._._. 1
_._._._.
a b c d e f g h „ a b c d e f g h

49.♔xf5 h2 37...♗e7 38.♖xd3 g4#

49...a1♕ doesn’t help Black:
50.♗xa1 h2 (only move) 51.♗f6
h1♕ (only move) 52.g4#.
50.♗f6 h1♕ 51.g4#

Game 176 
Westphal – Vogler
1992

8
._._T_._
7
_._.sJ_.
6
B_._J_M_
5
j._Jk._J
4
._._.i.i
3
_._._.i.
2
I_I_._._
1
_._.r._.
„ a b c d e f g h

43...♘f5 44.♗d3 f6#

132
The Checkmate Patterns Manual

EXERCISES C

Advanced test
This advanced test (C) contains nearly 300 exercises, and takes
all you have learned one step further. These exercises may be too
hard for beginners and casual players, they can be challenging for
intermediate players but also interesting for advanced players. More
than 75% of these exercises are mate-in-3, mate-in-4 or mate-in-5.

236
 EXERCISES C – Advanced test

Exercise C 1  Exercise C 2 
8
T_Lm.t._ 8
T_LdM_.t
7
_Jj.dJqJ 7
jJ_Sl._J
6
._._._._ 6
._J_J_.j
5
jB_Jn._. 5
_._.j._.
4
.i._._._ 4
._B_I_._
3
_.k._._. 3
_._._._.
2
.i._.iIi 2
IiI_.iIi
1

†
s.b.r._. 1

†
rN_Q_Rk.
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

Exercise C 3  Exercise C 4 
8
Ts.dMl.t 8
T_._T_M_
7
j.jJj._J 7
_._._JjJ
6
.j._.sI_ 6
J_._._._
5
_._._._Q 5
_J_._._.
4
._.i._._ 4
._LdI_._
3
_._B_._. 3
iIbJ_Q_.
2
IiI_.iLi 2
._._.iIi
1

†
rNb.k.nR 1
_._RkB_R
a b c d e f g h „ a b c d e f g h

Exercise C 5  Exercise C 6 
8
._._._T_ 8
._._._._
7
_Jt.lJ_M 7
_Jj.qJ_M
6
J_.j._Jd 6
.l._L_.j
5
_._Is._. 5
j._._._I
4
._.nBq._ 4
I_.d._.n
3
_._._.r. 3
_._._.t.
2
IiI_._.i 2
._._.iI_
1

†
_K_._.r. 1
r._.r.k.
a b c d e f g h „ a b c d e f g h

237
The Checkmate Patterns Manual

Exercise C 7  Exercise C 8 
8
._T_._Mt 8
T_._.tM_
7
j._D_J_J 7
jJrS_J_.
6
._S_Si.q 6
._._._Jl
5
_.jL_N_. 5
_I_.jD_J
4
._._.b._ 4
._.n._._
3
i._J_.i. 3
i.qIs.iL
2
.i._.i.i 2
.b.nIi.i
1

†
r._.r.k. 1
_._.r.kB
a b c d e f g h „ a b c d e f g h

Exercise C 9  Exercise C 10 

8
._._._._ 8
._._._M_
7
_._._.m. 7
jT_._JjJ
6
._R_.j.j 6
.j._.dS_
5
_._.jK_. 5
_._._Nq.
4
I_._N_.t 4
._J_._._
3
_I_.i._. 3
_._._._.
2
._._._._ 2
I_._.iIi
1

†
_._._._S 1

†
_._.r.k.
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

Exercise C 11  Exercise C 12 

8
.t._.tS_ 8
.t.d.m._
7
j._._.lM 7
_LjS_.j.
6
L_.jI_.j 6
J_._I_._
5
d.jI_._. 5
_._._._T
4
.j._Ji.n 4
Ij._IiJ_
3
_._.b._I 3
_Q_._._.
2
Ii._._B_ 2
Ni._._Il
1

†
_._NrRk. 1
r.b._R_K
a b c d e f g h „ a b c d e f g h

238
 EXERCISES C – Advanced test

Exercise C 13  Exercise C 14 

8
T_L_Tm._ 8
._T_._M_
7
_.s.s.j. 7
q.r._J_J
6
._Jd.jI_ 6
._._J_Jl
5
jJ_J_._. 5
_._.i._.
4
._.i.iI_ 4
._.i._._
3
_.nB_I_. 3
_._._N_.
2
Ii._._.q 2
It._DiIi
1

†
_.kR_._R 1
_._._Rk.
a b c d e f g h „ a b c d e f g h

Exercise C 15  Exercise C 16 

8
T_._TsM_ 8
._.t._.m
7
jJ_._._. 7
_._._._J
6
.d._.b.j 6
.j.t.j._
5
_._Ji._Q 5
_._._Qd.
4
._._._._ 4
._._._Jn
3
_._._._. 3
iB_._.i.
2
Ii._._Ii 2
.i._.i._
1

†
_B_._L_K 1

†
_._._.kR
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

Exercise C 17  Exercise C 18 

8
._._.m.t 8
._._B_._
7
_.d._._. 7
_R_.s._.
6
J_L_JnQl 6
.j.t._._
5
_.j._._J 5
_I_._Jm.
4
._I_.i.b 4
._._._J_
3
_._._._. 3
_._._.k.
2
I_._._.i 2
._._._._
1

†
_.k._.r. 1
_._._._.
a b c d e f g h „ a b c d e f g h

239
 SOLUTIONS C

Advanced test

327
 The Checkmate Patterns Manual

Solution C 1  Solution C 6 
Boden’s mate Greco’s mate
15.♕xf8+ ♕xf8 16.♘xf7+ ♕xf7 30...♕xf2+ 31.♔h1
17.♗g5+ ♕e7 18.♗xe7# 31.♔h2 ♖h3# (Greco’s mate).
From ‘Keep it simple: 1.e4’ by Christof White’s g-pawn can’t take
Sielecki, chapter ‘Scotch Four Knights’ Black’s rook since it is pinned.
31...♕xg2+ 32.♘xg2 ♖h3#
Solution C 2  Anderssen – Finch (1851)
Boden’s mate
10.♕h5+ ♔f8 11.♗xe6 ♕e8 Solution C 7 
12.♕xh6# Suffocation mate
From ‘Keep it simple: 1.e4’ by Christof 27.♗d6
Sielecki, chapter ‘1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 Others’ This bishop covers the f8-square,
so the queen is no longer
Solution C 3  necessary to cover f8.
Fool’s mate 27...♘cd4
7.gxh7+ ♘xh5 8.♗g6# If Black tries to attack White’s
Similar to Fool’s mate (Owen knight while blocking off the
Defense, Matovinsky Gambit). bishop’s diagonal via 27...♘e7,
From ‘Keep it simple: 1.e4’ by Christof White wins with 28.♖xe6,
Sielecki, ‘Alekhines and Rare Lines’ removing the defender of g7:
28...♘xf5 29.♕g5+ ♘g7 30.♕xg7#
Solution C 4  (Lolli’s mate).
David & Goliath mate Even if Black sacrifices his
24...♕xc3+ 25.♖d2 ♖xe4+ queen for the bishop with
26.♕xe4 27...♕xd6, White doesn’t accept
26.♗e2 ♕c1+ 27.♖d1 d2+ 28.♔f1 it and plays 28.♖xe6 anyway. A
♕xd1# (Back rank mate). The checkmate with the queen on
white bishop is pinned. g7 can’t be stopped.
26...♕c1+ 27.♖d1 d2# 28.♕g7+ ♘xg7 29.♘h6#
Karu – Keres (1931) Adly – Laznicka (2007)

Solution C 5  Solution C 8 
Lawnmower mate Boden’s mate
25.♕xh6+ ♔xh6 26.♘f5+ gxf5 21...♕xf2+ 22.♔xf2 ♘g4+ 23.♔f3
26...♔h5 27.♖h3+ ♗h4 28.♖xh4# e4+ 24.♔xe4 ♘df6+ 25.♔f3 ♘e5+
(Lawnmower mate); 26...♔h7 26.♔f2 ♘fg4+ 27.♔g1 ♗e3#
27.♖h3+ ♗h4 28.♖xh4# O’Kelly – Devos (1937)
(Anastasia’s mate).
27.♖h3+ ♗h4 28.♖xh4#
Rahman – Dunphy (1956)

328
 SOLUTIONS C – Advanced test

Solution C 9  Solution C 14 

Vukovic’s mate Back rank mate
42.♖c7+ ♔f8 24...♕xf2+ 25.♖xf2 ♖b1+ 26.♘e1
42...♔h8 43.♘xf6, and Black can’t ♖xe1+ 27.♖f1 ♗e3+ 28.♔h1 ♖xf1#
stop 44.♖h7# (Arabian mate); Moiseenko – Jussupow (2010)
42...♔g8 43.♘xf6+ ♔f8 44.♔e6,
and Black can’t stop 45.♖f7# Solution C 15 
(Vukovic’s mate). Damiano’s bishop mate
43.♘xf6 ♘g3+ 34.♗h7+ ♘xh7
Black’s best try seems to be 34...♔xh7 35.♕f7#.
43...♖b4 44.a5! and mate-in-3 35.♕g6+ ♔f8 36.♕g7#
(most likely Vukovic’s mate). Motylev – Iljushin (2000)
44.♔e6 h5 45.♖f7#
Kholopov – Matsenko (2011) Solution C 16 
Damiano’s bishop mate
Solution C 10  41.♘g6+ ♔g7
Back rank mate 41...♕xg6? 42.♕xg6, and Black
23.♖e8+ ♘f8 24.♘h6+ ♕xh6 cannot recapture due to a pin.
25.♖xf8+ ♔xf8 26.♕d8# 42.♖xh7+ ♔xh7 43.♘f8+ ♔g7
Alekhine – Frieman (1924) 44.♕h7+ ♔xf8 45.♕f7#
Tolush – Stoltz (1953)
Solution C 11 
Suffocation mate Solution C 17 
27.♗xe4+ ♔h8 28.♘g6+ ♔h7 Damiano’s bishop mate
29.♘xf8+ ♔h8 30.♘g6+ ♔h7 32.♘h7+ ♕xh7
31.♘e5+ ♔h8 32.♘f7# 32...♖xh7 33.♕g8#.
Alekhine – Fletcher (1928) 33.♕f6+ ♔e8
33...♕f7 34.♕xh8+ ♕g8
Solution C 12  35.♕xg8#.
Max Lange’s mate 34.♕d8+ ♔f7 35.♕e7#
20...♗g3+ 21.♔g1 ♖h1+ 22.♔xh1 Escalator into Damiano’s bishop
♕h4+ 23.♔g1 ♕h2# mate.
Almasi – Andersen (2007) Vaulin – Guliev (1995)

Solution C 13  Solution C 18 

Epaulette mate David & Goliath mate
21.♕h8+ ♘g8 22.♕xg7+ ♔xg7 90...♖d2 91.♖xe7 f4#
23.♖h7+ ♔f8 24.♖f7# Dreev – Smirnov (2018)
Moiseenko – Aleksandrov (2014)

329
 The Checkmate Patterns Manual

Index of mate names

The numbers refer to the pages on which the mate
names are introduced and explained.
A H
Anastasia’s mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Hook mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Anderssen’s mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Arabian mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 L
Lawnmower mate. . . . . . . . . . . . 170
B Legal’s mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Back rank mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Lolli’s mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Balestra mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Blackburne’s mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 M
Blind swine mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 Max Lange’s maneuver into
Boden’s mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 Damiano’s bishop mate. . . . . . . 103
Box mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Max Lange’s mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Mayet’s mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
C Morphy’s mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Corner mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Cozio’s mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 O
Opera mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
D
Damiano’s bishop mate. . . . . . . . 93 P
Damiano’s mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Philidor’s legacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
David & Goliath mate . . . . . . . . . . 121 Pillsbury’s mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Double bishops mate. . . . . . . . . 144 Pin mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Double knights mate. . . . . . . . . 140
Dovetail (bishop) mate. . . . . . . . . 113 R
Dovetail (knight) mate. . . . . . . . . 111 Railroad into Box mate. . . . . . . . 187
Dovetail mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Railroad into Triangle mate . . . 183
Réti’s mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
E
Epaulette mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 S
Escalator into Damiano’s bishop Scholar’s mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Smothered mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Suffocation mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
F Swallow’s tail mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Fool’s mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
T
G Triangle mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Greco’s mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Two-move checkmate. . . . . . . . . 191
Guéridon mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
V
Vukovic’s mate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

374