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Pathway extension · Endgame reference

Basic checkmate methods

A won ending still requires accurate technique. These compact methods show how to restrict the enemy king, bring your king forward and finish without giving stalemate.

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01

Use every sheet the same way

Identify, restrict, support, verify

Visual chess lesson

Back-rank mate

White to move

White to move. The black king has no escape square. Find mate in one.

e8: Mating squareg8: Boxed-in king1.Re8#
Reveal the explanation

1.Re8# mates. The rook controls the eighth rank and Black’s own pawns on f7, g7 and h7 prevent the king from escaping.

Verified line: Re8#

A boxed-in king and an unguarded back rank allow 1.Re8#.Position: 6k1/5ppp/8/8/8/8/8/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
1

Match the ending

Identify the material and find the sheet that fits the position.

2

Find the next job

Use only the current step rather than calculating the entire mate from the start.

3

Restrict the king

Each move should reduce the enemy king’s available squares or bring your king closer.

4

Check stalemate

Before a quiet move, confirm that the defender retains at least one legal move.

02

Sheet 1

King and queen: the three-step method

1

Restrict the king

Use the queen to confine the king to one region without giving unnecessary checks.

2

March your king

Bring the king close enough to support the mating net.

3

Deliver mate safely

Give the final protected check only after confirming the king still had a legal move before the mate.

03

Sheets 2 and 3

King and rook: restrict by rank or file

Visual chess lesson

Ladder mate

Black to move

Notice how the two rooks create adjacent barriers.

h8: Mated kingg8: Escape square controlledRook checkSecond rook cuts off the king
Reveal the explanation

The rook on h6 checks along the h-file. The rook on g7 controls g8 and the king on f6 protects g7, leaving Black no legal reply.

The heavy pieces confine the king one rank at a time; the king protects the finishing rook.Position: 7k/6R1/5K1R/8/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1

Visual chess lesson

Arabian mate

Black to move

Why can the king neither capture the rook nor escape to g8?

h7: Protected checking rookg8: Knight-controlled escapeKnight protects rookKnight covers escape
Reveal the explanation

The rook on h7 gives check. The knight on f6 protects h7 and controls g8, while the rook controls g7.

Rook and knight coordinate to cover every square around the cornered king.Position: 7k/7R/5N2/8/8/8/8/6K1 b - - 0 1
1

Cut off a rank or file

Place the rook far enough away to be safe while limiting the enemy king.

2

Bring the king up

Use the king to take the opposition and force the defender backwards.

3

Reduce the king’s area

When the kings oppose each other, use the rook to remove another rank or file.

4

Give the final rook check

With the enemy king on the edge and your king controlling the escape squares, check along the rank or file.

Keep sufficient checking distance: place the rook far enough from the enemy king that it cannot be attacked or captured.

04

Sheets 4 and 5

Promote the pawn

Visual chess lesson

Square rule

White to move

Can the black king catch the pawn without help?

c5: Passed pawnc8: Promotion squaref8: Square-rule boundaryf5: Square-rule boundaryPromotion route
Reveal the explanation

No. Draw the pawn’s square from c5 to c8 and across to f8/f5. The black king on h8 is outside it, so after 1.c6 the pawn promotes before the king can catch it.

Verified line: c6

The highlighted promotion square shows the boundary the defending king must enter.Position: 7k/8/8/2P5/8/8/8/K7 w - - 0 1

Visual chess lesson

Opposition

White to move

The kings face each other with one square between them. Who has the opposition?

e6: Opposition square between the kings
Reveal the explanation

Black has the opposition because White must move. White’s king must give way, allowing Black’s king to resist the advance.

With one square between the kings, the player who does not have to move holds the direct opposition.Position: 8/4k3/8/4K3/4P3/8/8/8 w - - 0 1

Use the rule of the square

Draw an imaginary square from the pawn to the promotion rank. If the defending king can enter, it can catch the pawn without help.

Escort from the front

Bring the king ahead of the pawn, use the opposition and advance the pawn only after the king has gained the critical square.

Queen-and-king coordination

After promotion, use the knight’s-move rule to restrict the enemy king with the queen, then bring your king closer.

05

Critical endings

Two bishops and stalemate warnings

Visual chess lesson

Smothered mate

Black to move

Why is the knight’s check decisive?

h8: Mated kingg8: Own rook blocks escapeg7: Own pawn blocks escapeh7: Own pawn blocks escapeKnight check
Reveal the explanation

The knight on f7 attacks h8. The king is completely surrounded by its own rook and pawns, so it has no legal square and the knight cannot be blocked.

The king is smothered by its own pieces while the knight delivers mate.Position: 6rk/5Npp/8/8/8/8/8/6K1 b - - 0 1

Visual chess lesson

Anastasia’s mate

Black to move

Identify how the knight and rook divide the work.

g8: Knight-controlled escape squareg7: Own pawn blocks the kingRook checkKnight control
Reveal the explanation

The rook checks along the h-file. The knight on e7 controls g8, while Black’s pawn on g7 removes the other escape square.

A rook on the open h-file and a knight controlling g8 form Anastasia’s mating pattern.Position: 7k/4N1p1/8/8/8/8/8/6KR b - - 0 1

Visual chess lesson

Opera mate

Black to move

How do the bishop and rook prevent every escape?

e8: Mated kinge1: Checking rookb5: Supporting bishopRook checkBishop control
Reveal the explanation

The rook on e1 checks along the e-file and the bishop on b5 also attacks e8. Black's own rooks and pawns occupy the surrounding escape squares, leaving the king with no legal reply.

The Opera mate coordinates a rook on an open file with a bishop controlling the king's escape route.Position: 3rkr2/3p1p2/8/1B6/8/8/8/4R1K1 b - - 0 1

Two bishops mate

Coordinate the bishops on adjacent diagonals to make a shrinking barrier, drive the king towards a corner and bring your king to support the final net.

Corner stalemate

A queen or rook can remove every square without giving check. Leave a legal move until your king is ready.

Blocked-pawn stalemate

A defending king with no squares and a blocked pawn may already be out of moves. Verify before advancing or capturing.

Lone-pawn stalemate

When the last pawn cannot move and the king has no square, a careless quiet move draws immediately.

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