Checkmate Problems

A Method for Solving One-Move Checkmate Problems

Dr. Raghu

1. Identify the pieces which can deliver a check to the opponent King in ONE move.
2. Use algebraic notation to list those pieces and their checking move.
3. Begin the process of elimination by examining whether each checking piece and move allows a way for the opponent King to avoid checkmate. Remember, the opponent King can avoid checkmate if it can 
4. move to a safe square

OR

1. block the attack

OR

1. capture the attacking piece
2. The checking move which allows the opponent King none of these options is the checkmate move.

How To Solve Two-Move Checkmate Problems

Two-Move Checkmate Problems

Dr. Raghu

1. Your first move can be either a check or a non-check move. Consider possible check moves first. Eliminate check moves which can be blocked, escaped, or counterattacked by the opposing side. Here you have to think about how your opponent can respond to your first move andyour second move. If you have no viable check moves which result in a checkmate in your second move, move on to your non-check move options.
2. Consider possible non-check moves which can lead to a checkmate in the second move. The non-check move must be a “gateway” move to a checkmate in the next move. It must set a trap or tighten the noose around the neck of the opponent’s king.  Here you have to think about how your opponent can respond to your first move and your second move.
3. Your second move must be a check! If it is the correct move, it will result in a checkmate for your opponent. Again, you have to make sure that your opponent’s king cannot escape, block the attack, or take out your attacking piece with one of his pieces.

Example:

Set up your chessboard as follows:White: K-e5; Q-c3; Black: K-a1; Pawn a2; R-b2; White to move and checkmate black in two moves.

Checkmate occurs in two moves. That means the first move prepares for the checkmate in the following move. The first move can be either a checking or a non-checking move.

Let’s see if the first move is a checking move. There are three checking moves the white queen can make: 1) Q x b2, 2) Q-c1, and 3) Q-e1.

Obviously, Q x b2 (capturing the rook and delivering a check) is foolish because the black king can capture the attacking queen.

Q-c1 will not give a checkmate in the next and final move because the rook can move to b1 and block the check and threaten the queen at the same time. If the queen goes back to c3, thr rook can also go back to b2 and block that second check.

Q-e1 gives us the same story with black using its rook to block and threaten the attacking queen.

Hence, we must conclude that the first move is NOT a checking move.

What is it? Before we figure that out, consider a crucial fact: if the white queen moves in such a way as to keep the black rook in b2, the black king is trapped in the first rank and will be forced to move to b1. The black pawn, you must note, is advancing toward a1 and so cannot move backwards to a3.

The only way to keep the black rook pinned to b2 is to move the queen back diagonally to d4. This is the best first move because it keeps the rook pinned and forces the black king to move to b1 (it has no other option!). The next move by white is a checkmate! White simply moves its queen to d1 and it is a checkmate.

Thus, the first move is Q-d4 because it forces black to move K-b1 which then leads to a checkmate by white Q-d1.

How To Solve Best Move Problems

Best Move Problems

Follow these three steps in determining the best move for the moving side:

1. Assess what is at stake in terms of securing an important advantage for the moving side.
2. Determine which piece can secure that advantage in the shortest series (in three or less moves after the first and best move) of moves.
3. Determine which move of that piece is the quickest way (in three or less moves after the first and best move)to secure that advantage. This is the best move.

Discussion # 5 Best move problems:

1. ARRANGE YOUR CHESS BOARD AS FOLLOWS: WHITE: K-D7, N-B2; BLACK: K-D4, R-E1; BLACK TO MOVE. WHAT IS BLACK’S BEST MOVE? EXPLAIN OR JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWER.

THE ANSWER IS RB1. BLACK’S ADVANTAGE IS TO CAPTURE THE WHITE KNIGHT. RB1 DOES THIS. IF THE WHITE KNIGHT RETREATS TO A4, THEN THE NEXT MOVE IS RB4 WHICH FINISHES OFF THE WHITE KNIGHT.

1. ARRANGE YOUR CHESS BOARD AS FOLLOWS: WHITE: K-D8, R-A4, R-H5; BLACK: K-D6, Q-E2; WHITE TO MOVE. WHAT IS WHITE’S BEST MOVE? EXPLAIN OR JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWER.

THE ANSWER IS R-A6. WHITE’S ADVANTAGE IS TO CAPTURE THE BLACK QUEEN. THIS CHECK R-A6 LEAVES BLACK WITH ONLY ONE CHOICE: TO CAPTURE THE ATTACKING WHITE ROOK WITH ITS QUEEN IN E2. THE TRAP IS THEN SET TO SKEWER THE BLACK KING AND THE QUEEN NOW IN A6 BY ANOTHER CHECK RH6. THE BLACK KING MUST MOVE AND ITS QUEEN IS LOST.

Set up your chess board: White: N-f8, K-g6, p-g7; Black: R-d8, K-g8;

White to move. What is the best move? Explain!

Follow these three steps in determining the best move for the moving side:

1. Assess what is at stake in terms of securing an important advantage for the moving side.

White has to protect its pawn and try to capture the black rook. The rook has more value than the knight. So, if white is forced to exchange its knight for the rook, it would still be an advantage.

2. Determine which piece can secure that advantage in the shortest series of moves.

The white king must not move. It is guarding the pawn. The pawn, obviously, cannot move. So, the only piece which can move is the knight. But which move?

3. Determine which move of that piece is the quickest way to secure that advantage. This is the best move.

The white knight can move to d7, or e6, or h7. Which of these is the best move? D7 is suicidal because the rook will capture the knight and at the same time attack the white pawn. E6 will invite a skewer of the knight and the king if the rook moves to d6 in response. So, the best move must be h7.

If the rook moves to d6 and checks the white king, then the white knight moves to f6 and blocks that check and at the same time checks the black king. Black has no choice but to take the knight and exchange its rook. White still has a pawn to queen. The game has turned in favor of white.

Another Example:

Set up your chess board: White: K-a8, R-a6, p-a5, p-b6; Black: K-c8, R-h7

Black to move. What is the best move? Explain!

Follow these three steps in determining the best move for the moving side:

1. Assess what is at stake in terms of securing an important advantage for the moving side.

Black must prevent the white pawn in b6 from advancing to check its king first and then queening. If the white pawn advances to b7, it’s “game over” for black. Black must also examine if it can deliver a checkmate to white before white does that to black.

2. Determine which piece can secure that advantage in the shortest series of moves.

Only the black rook can block white’s pawn at b6 from advancing. White can then only move its rook forward. It cannot move its pawns or its king which is cornered in a8 and will be pinned against the wall if the white rook moves to a7. This opens the way for a checkmate by black.

3. Determine which move of that piece is the quickest way to secure that advantage. This is the best move.

The only move the black rook in h7 can make to block the white pawn in b6 from advancing is to move to b7. White can only respond by moving its rook to a7. The black rook then moves to b8 and it’s checkmate for white!