How to checkmate with few pieces [Basics For Beginners]

Hi,

I wanted to share some of my knowledge with beginners about a subject that I myself also struggle both defensively and offensively.

This is going to seem completely basic and obvious but believe me when calculating ahead, it's not. Embrace the fact the we all benefit from re-enforcing absolute rudiments.

So first a Question: How many squares do you need to control (or have blocked) to checkmate a King?

Answer: either 9, 6, or 4.

Depending on what then?

On the King's position.

If the King is in the corner:

9!

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Does that mean you have to control all those squares? No.

Many times your opponents pieces also block the king's escape, but that doesn't change the fact that if you think you have a checkmate, and you want to be sure, you can always count either 4, 6, or 9 squares. Some controlled by your attacking pieces, some might be your opponent's pieces blocking.

 

 

Examples:

 

The king is on the edge, so the magic number is 6, in this case the Rook controls a file (3 squares) The Knight is attacking the King (1 square) and Black has two pieces smothering the King (2 squares).

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Here it's just 4, because the king is in the corner.

The rook controls 2, Knight controls 1, and Black pawn blocks 1.

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Another example of 6, with a Rook controlling a file, 2 Black pieces blocking and a Bishop denying the final square.

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Finally an example of 9. Kinda pretty how the the Rook controls 1 square, Bishop controls 2, g-Knight controls 2 escape squares,  c-Knight attacks and denies escape, and 2 more pieces block (2+2+2+1=9).

 

And of course in the previous puzzle...

 

The king is on the edge,

1 attacker + 3 blockers smothering = 4  

 

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Now this seems easy and simple, but when you're calculating 1, 2, 3 or more moves ahead in to future positions, it can become tricky.

In these specific puzzles you would have to see these patterns before giving up material, so you must be certain 100% triple-checked that it works before you sac.

 

However this wont only come in to play after flashy queen sac combinations, this pattern recognition can help you see mating combinations in all kinds of different situations.

 

I think this can be useful for beginners to actually count squares when going for a decisive attack, and also when defending to be sure if something works or dosen't work before you play. Calling opponent's bluffs or attempting a heroic defense with a sketchy king may also come in handy.

I actually count with a rhythm, like if the enemy king is in the center, my magic number is 9, I go:

 

 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, mate! (with a melody or rhythm/slogan type thing)

 

*with "mate" being the [9th] square... This doesn't matter so much because normally pieces overlap or control squares twice when hunting a king which is not on the edge.

 

 

 

Good luck! 

Final one for desert:

This one is a 6. Note that the Queen is the most common piece to deliver a mate on it's own (excluding Back Rank, Smothered Mate, etc...) meaning the queen can mate with 0 support from any other piece. Here it controls 4 squares and 2 Black pieces smother.