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Sole King Mates
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Sole King Mates

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Now, we will take a break from checkmate patterns and have a look at what to do to checkmate in the endgame, with only one or two pieces left on the board. Here are some essential checkmate ideas you need to learn.

Sole King Mates

Overview:

1. 2 rooks and king VS. king

2. Queen and king VS. King

3. Rook and King VS. King

4. Double Bishop VS. King

1. 2 Rooks and King VS. King

For this checkmate, you need to coordinate your rooks, cutting off files or ranks until the king is on the edge of the board. Above is the fastest way to deliver checkmate in the situation, and as you can see, one rook is cutting off the 2nd rank while the other checkmating on the 1st rank. You can also make use of your king to cut off more squares or to support your rooks. But if you're too lazy to work out how to checkmate within the least number of moves, just move your rooks to where the king can't reach and begin cutting off file after file, or rank after rank, as shown below. (Actually both methods required 6 moves, but if the king is farther from the edge the method above would be faster, using the king too)

2. Queen and King VS. King

 To deliver this checkmate, the opponent king must be on the edge of the board. The queen itself cannot deliver checkmate, so the king must also be nearby to deliver checkmate. This checkmate is delivered by a king-supported queen by pressing the queen right next to the opponent's king. However, one must be sure to always look out for stalemate, letting the game end in a draw.

3. Rook and King VS. King

There are two ways to do this: By using a mating net, or by using opposition.

1. The Mating Net method: Using your rook to create a net and keep shrinking the net towards a corner without the rook being captured. The king must always be close to the rook, and when checkmating, the king should be the one limiting the adjacent file/rank with the rook on the side delivering checkmate.

This usually takes at most 20 moves to checkmate. Just keeping on shrinking the mating net until the king is confined to just 2 squares, one of which is the corner, and then bring your king closer to the opponent king by taking opposition, before checkmating with the rook by striking at the back rank.

2. Opposition Method: Takes longer time to perform but easier to remember.

You always want the opponent to be the one taking opposition, because then, you can take away the file/rank the opponent's king is on with the rook. Then keeping the rook on that file/rank, chase the king down the board to let the opponent take opposition. (Rook needed as to limit the king from going back to the previous file/rank) Below is an example of the checkmate using this method. Again, this works only when the king is on the edge of the board. (Explanation you can figure out yourselves, I explained it above or it is actually quite self-explanatory)

4. Double Bishop and King VS. King

Look at the video below to learn about the double bishop mate! 

One more thing: Beware of Stalemate! Below is an example of an immediate draw! Be careful and always check if your opponent has any legal moves on the next move before deciding on your move!

If there are extra pieces your opponent has, let's say a bishop or knight, first get rid of that piece by forking, pinning or skewering, before starting your king hunt.

Hope you have enjoyed this blog! Have a great day ahead!