Unintentional Mates

This one (from a very long time ago) was in fact fully intentional, but the fact that my opponent actually fell for it left me so dumbfounded that I had to sit there for several seconds and see if I missed something 💀

In game 1 I was hoping for a bunch of checks but instead got a sort-of Boden's Mate, and in the second one I got jumpscared when I played what I thought was a normal check

The second one, you missed to take his rook at end of the forking-sequence. However you got yourself a shine-y new king!

I love when this things happen.

Exactly, lol. I played it thinking it was a regular check and fork

My game against @sglenh, a 3 minute match played today. I was behind on the clock by quite a lot and was moving with little thought but got that pleasant surprise everyone here talks about.

pawn mates are always really nice and usually unexpected. i like how the king got driven to a4 and mated by a pawn in the opponent's side of the board

Yes. Now I look at it closer, it was really a suimate on his part as he left his King with no escape from a back row mate.

Believe me, I as astounded when what was simply a desperate move to stay in the game gave me the win.

Years ago, a witty friend used to say, tongue in cheek, "Always give a Check, It might be Mate!"

I have had a lot lately. I am afraid that it is the sign of lack of thought or chronic time trouble problems in my play.