Major Piece Mates
I suggest that you cover the moves and try to figure out the moves yourself. Then look at the solutions and make the moves in your head, read out comments and click each move name. Then click here for our online PGN viewer. In addition you can load the PGN into a chess program and play the positions against the computer.
--1--
QRTriangulationMate
Queen & Rook Triangulation Mate
Edge Mate
White To Play
You will note how the Queen and Rook maintain a horizontal or diagonal connection, this is a case of death by "Triangulation."
--2--
QRRollingBarrierMate
Queen & Rook Rolling Barrier Mate
Edge Mate
White To Play
The King is forced back one row at a time by the "Rolling Barrier."
--3--
RRScissorsMate
Two Rooks Scissors Mate--Vertical and Horizontal
Edge Mate
White To Play
The opposing edges of the Rooks' force fields form an effective "Scissors" that kill the Black king.
--4--
KQFMate
King & Queen Mate--Family Fun
Edge Mate
White To Play
--5--
KQBackoff
King & Queen Mate--Backing Off
Corner Mate
White To Play
With his first move White "Backs Off" in order to "Stop The Draw" from "Stalemate."
--6--
KQCutoff
King & Queen Mate--The Cut-off At Clearwater Pass
Edge Mate
White To Play
White's first move "Cuts Off" Black's King and prevents it from "Running" away.
--7--
KQBarrierMate
King & Queen Mate--The Barrier
Edge Mate
White To Play
--8--
KRWOMate
King & Rook Mate--Waiting Move, Opposition
Edge Mate
White To Play
The "Waiting Move" forces Black's King to move into "Opposition" with White's King, and sooner or later he gets done in by the "Opposition Mate."
--9--
KRCutoffMate
King & Rook Mate--Cut-off
Edge Mate
White To Play
1. Qd4+ Ke6
2. Rf6+ Ke7
3. Qd6+ Ke8
4 Rf8#
[FEN "8/8/8/4k3/5R2/8/8/3QK3 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "7"]
{#} 1. Qd4+ Ke6 2. Rf6+ Ke7 3. Qd6+ Ke8 4. Rf8# 1-0
1. Qa5+ Kd6
2. Rb6+ Kc7
3. Qa7 Kc8
4. Rb8#
[FEN "8/8/8/4k3/1R6/Q7/8/4K3 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "7"]
{#} 1. Qa5+ Kd6 2. Rb6+ Kc7 3. Qa7+ Kc8 4. Rb8# 1-0
1) Rf2 Kg7
2) Rg1+ Kh6
3) Rh2#
or
1) Rh7 Kf8
2) Rg1 Ke8
3) Rg8#
[FEN "6k1/8/8/8/8/8/7R/5K1R w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]
{#} 1. Rf2 (1. Rh7 Kf8 2. Rg1 Ke8 3. Rg8#) 1... Kg7 2. Rg1+ Kh6 3. Rh2# 1-0
1) Kc6 Kb8
2) Qb7#
[FEN "k7/3Q4/8/3K4/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]
{#} 1. Kc6 Kb8 2. Qb7# 1-0
This is a "Family Mate."
1) Qb5 Ka7
2) Kc6 Ka8
3) Qb7#
[FEN "k7/8/1Q6/3K4/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]
{#} 1. Qb5 Ka7 2. Kc6 Ka8 3. Qb7# 1-0
1) Qg3 Kh6
2) Qg6#
[FEN "6Q1/5K2/8/7k/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]
{#} 1. Qg3 Kh6 2. Qg6# 1-0
1) Qh7 Kf8
2) Kd6 Ke8
3) Qe7
or
1) ... Kd8
2) Kd6 Kc8
3) Qe7#
[FEN "4k3/8/8/2K5/8/8/8/7Q w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]
{#} 1. Qh7 Kf8 (1... Kd8 2. Kd6 Kc8 3. Qc7#) 2. Kd6 Ke8 3. Qe7# 1-0
The Queen sets up a "Barrier" beyond which the enemy king cannot move thus making him an easy target for mate.
1) Rb7 Kg8
2) Kf6 Kh8
3) Kg6 Kg8
4) Rb8#
not
1) ... Ke8
2) Rb8#
[FEN "5k2/R7/4K3/8/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "7"]
{#} 1. Rb7 Kg8 2. Kf6 Kh8 3. Kg6 Kg8 4. Rb8# 1-0
1) Rg5 Ke8
2) Rg8#
[FEN "5k2/8/4K3/3R4/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]
{#} 1. Rg5 Ke8 2. Rg8# 1-0
The Rook "Cuts-off" the Black King, Forcing him to move into "Opposition" with the White King and thus be done in by the "Opposition Mate."
To see these examples in our PGN viewer click here.