Major Piece Checkmates

Hello Chess for Children kids! It’s me, Mr C and today’s subject will be Major Piece Checkmates.

Major piece Checkmates are checkmates which involve the Queen and the Rooks.

The Queen and the Rooks are called major pieces, while the Knights and Bishops are called minor pieces.

The Queen and Rooks are the strongest pieces on the board so checkmate can happen easily when they work together and the opponent is careless in his defense.

How do we know if a mating pattern involving the major pieces is possible in a chess position? We know that a major piece checkmating patterns may be possible if any one or more of these things are occurring in the position.

1. The King is by itself, or insufficiently guarded by pieces.
2. The King has not route of escape
3. The Queen and Rooks  are working well together.

The following checkmates are among the most common major piece patterns.

Checkmate #1

The following diagram shows a position from Damianos book on chess published in Rome in the year 1512. If you would like to know more about Damiano, his checkmates or his book you can visit our lesson on him here.

Checkmate Pattern #1

White to move and Mate in 3

(answers appears at end of the article)

Here the King is insufficiently protected by pieces, his only protection, Pawns.

Checkmate Pattern #2

White to move and Mate in 3

(answers appears at end of the article)

         This checkmate demonstrates the Kill Box checkmate.                      

       Checkmate Pattern #3

White to move and Mate in 6

(answers appears at end of the article)             

In the next diagram, again, the Black king is only protected by Pawns

    Checkmate Pattern #4

White to move and Mate in 3

(answers appears at end of the article)   

Let’s let Black have a turn at checkmate.

   Checkmate Pattern #5

 Black to move and mate in 5

(answers appears at end of the article)   

The next one is a tricky one. Here is a hint: Don’t let the King escape from the Kill Box.

 Checkmate Pattern #6

White to move and mate in 7

(answers appears at end of the article) 

The next diagram once again the Black King is all 

alone.

Checkmate Pattern #7

White to move and mate in 4

(answers appears at end of the article) 

There are other checkmating patterns involving major pieces such as Damiano’s, Back Rank Mate etc. most are dealt with in other checkmating articles and videos by Chess for Children.

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Answers to the problems:

1. 1.Qa7+ Ka7 2.Ra2+ Qa4 3. Ra4 Mate
2. 1.Qg4+ Kh8 2. Rh7+ Kh7 3. Rh1 Mate
3. 1.Qd7+ Ke5 2. Rf5+ Ke4 3.Qd5+ Ke3 4.Rf3+ Ke2 5. Qd3+ Ke1 6.Rf1 Mate.
4. 1.Rh7+ Kh7 2. Qf7+ Kh6 or Kh8 3.Rh1 Mate
5. 1…Rg2+ 2.Kh1 (if 2.Kg2 Rg8+ 3.Kh3 Qh6 Mate or 3. Kh1 Qf3 Mate)  Rh2+ 3.Kh2 Rh8+ 4.Kg2 Rg8+ 5. Kany Qh3 Mate
6. 1.Rg6+ fg6 2.Qg6+ kh8 3. Qh5+ Kg7 4.Rg1+ Qg2 5. Rg2+ Kf6 6. Qe5+ Kf7 7.Rg7 Mate
7. 1.Rh8+ Kh8 2.Rf8+ Kh7 3.Qh3+ Rh4 4.Oh4 Mate