Checkmate Patterns In Games

There are many creative types of checkmates in chess where different pieces work together to checkmate the king. Knowing all these checkmates will allow you to see these patterns throughout games.

Types of Checkmates:

Anastasia's Mate

The king is stuck on the edge. A knight blocks the escape, and a rook (or queen) gives checkmate.

Hook Mate

A rook gives checkmate while a pawn helps by blocking the king’s escape—like a hook!

Arabian Mate

A rook and knight team up in the corner to checkmate the king.

Corner Mate

The king is stuck in the corner, and a knight or rook finishes the job.

Vukovic Mate

A rook and knight checkmate together, with help from a pawn or other piece.

Opera Mate

A bishop and rook work together to checkmate on the back rank.

Reti's Mate

A bishop checkmates using “x-ray vision” while enemy pieces block the king’s escape.

Morphy's Mate

The bishop checks while a rook traps the king in the corner. Named after Morphy!

Pillsbury's Mate

A rook gives a checkmate while a bishop covers the corner square near the king.

Swallow’s Tail Mate

The queen gives checkmate while the king’s own pieces trap it behind—looks like a bird’s tail.

Kill Box Mate

A queen and rook trap the king in a “box” and deliver a checkmate together.

Triangle Mate

A queen and rook form a triangle around the king so it can’t run away.

Back-rank Mate (Most common type of Checkmate)

The king is stuck behind its own pawns, and a rook or queen delivers a checkmate from behind.

Blind Swine Mate

Two rooks on the 7th row trap the king—watch out for sneaky swine!

Smothered Mate

A knight checks a king trapped by its own pieces—no way to move!

Suffocation Mate

A knight and bishop trap a king with no air to breathe—checkmate!

Pawn Mate / David & Goliath Mate

A small pawn, with some help, gives checkmate—small but mighty!

Dovetail Mate / Cozio Mate

The queen gives checkmate while the king is trapped by its own pieces on each side—like feathers.

Damiano’s Mate

A queen and pawn (or bishop) checkmate a castled king after breaking its pawn wall.

Lolli’s Mate

A queen and pawn work together to checkmate a king near the corner.

Epaulette Mate

The king is stuck between two of its own rooks, and the queen gives checkmate.

Greco’s Mate

A bishop blocks one square while the rook or queen checkmates down the file.

Max Lange’s Mate

The queen checks while the bishop covers an escape square—perfect teamwork!

Double Bishop Mate

Two bishops criss-cross their diagonals to trap and checkmate the king.

Boden’s Mate

Two bishops checkmate together by covering crossing diagonals—like an X!

Balestra Mate

A bishop checks while the queen blocks the king’s escape on the side.

Blackburne’s Mate

Two bishops and a knight team up to trap a castled king and give checkmate.

Corridor Mate

The king is stuck along a row or file (a hallway), and a queen or rook checkmates.

Fool’s Mate / 2-Move Checkmate

The quickest checkmate ever! If a player opens up their king too early, game over fast.

Scholar’s Mate / 4-Move Checkmate

The queen and bishop team up to attack f7 early—watch out!

Légal’s Mate

A sneaky knight sacrifice opens the way for a quick checkmate—even if the queen is lost.

Diagonal Corridor Mate

The king is stuck on a diagonal (like a slanted hallway), and a bishop gives checkmate.

H-file Mate

The h-file is open, and a rook or queen slides down it to checkmate the king.

Lawnmower Mate

Two rooks (or rook and queen) push the king to the edge like a lawnmower, then checkmate!

Railroad Mate

A queen and rook ride along a rank or file like a train to deliver a checkmate.

Thank you for Chessfox, Lichess, and Chess.com for the images!