Pieces required for mate

Yesterday I posted a game, with a cool final position.

Each Knight covers a different escape square

The Bishop gives check, and covers d2

The queen pins the only piece that can interpose.

So, 4 pieces are needed for this mate. Question, what is the greatest number of pieces need for a mate in

• A real master (DB) game
• composed position

The bishop on f1 and pawn on f2 are needed too.

I mean for the  mating side

You can mate with just 2 pawns and a king in the average chess game.

Most I can do is 5

Logically you should try in the center. You need more pieces there imo.

A task like this is basically asking the composer to be as inefficient as possible in constructing the mate. I can do that!

White needs all 16 units or it's not mate.

@BigDoggProblem White needs all 16 units or it's not mate.

You're actually using 17 units here .

Heh, didn't notice that 3rd N sneak in there. OK, fixed.

Well done, BDP :)

nice