Is it useful to learn check-mate patterns?

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XequeYourself

I'm thinking the specific, named ones such as these - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkmate_pattern

I just finished a game where I was able to end with a dovetail mate, which was satisfying to spot but I can't say that any of my play leading up to that point had been based on trying to engineer that outcome....it's just that I recognised it when it happened.

 

This also reminded me of a game I played (my current "best win as an 1100 v a 1600 player) which I was playing shortly after reading about Greco's mate where I found myself in this position (I'm white):

 

Because I'd been reading about Greco just the day before, I felt I could recognise the building blocks of it in play and was trying to figure out how to get them all in the right place (which obviously didn't work, but also didn't cost me anything in terms of the game itself).

So my question is - does it help to learn and know these patterns?

On the one hand, there are many of them (nearly 40 just on that wiki page) and I'm sure some would say just focus on practising tactics and the rest will fall into place.

On the other hand, I can also see it being useful to know these patterns well enough to be able to see potential opportunities and start trying to put the pieces in the right place for them.

KevinOSh

For 1200 level, trying to learn them all is probably too much, but I think it is good to learn at least a few of them.

For example it is important to be aware of the potential to make a smothered mate, and the danger of your opponent hitting you with smothered mate.

I found that Magnus Trainer app useful for learning about 8 or so important checkmate patterns.

XequeYourself

It was that app where I was learning about Greco at the time!

I stopped using it in the end because you couldn't replay lessons from the start without clicking back once per page (sometimes 100+ pages).

lodrac91

This list on wikipedia is non sense, you just need to play and improve your vision whatever the material is, intensive practice is all you need, you have the tools for that on Chess.com.

PerpetuallyPinned

You've already found it useful. I dunno about the list itself.

You also have these noted to games you've played. What openings? What pawns structures? I noticed you have passed isolated queen pawns in both (1 protected)