Four Basic Endgame Checkmate Patterns for Students!

by John Bain

“If you want to be great at chess begin at the ending!”

“For a student to understand and progress in all stages of the game–the Opening, the Middle Game and the Endgame–the student must first know how to end the game in checkmate!” 

-John Bain, author of Checkmate! Ideas For Students

Why the Four Checkmate Endgame Patterns are so important for a student to master? 

The patterns contain certain knowledge that give students skills and confidence, which transfer to the whole game, enhancing all future learning; i.e., a waiting move–or “tempo” move; pawn majorities; moving the King to the center in the endgame; creating passed pawns and promoting passed pawns to Queens and so forth.

King & 2 Rooks vs Lone King

Checkmate Pattern 1: King and 2 Rooks versus the lone King checkmate. To begin, the white King is on e1 & with two Rooks on a1 and h1 versus the lone black King on e4.

Checkmate Pattern 1: In the First Checkmate Pattern above, the student plays the white pieces–with the white King on e1 & two Rooks on a1 and h1 versus the lone black King on e4.

The Assignment: White quickly checkmates the black King on the 8th rank, using only the two Rooks.

King & Queen vs Lone King

Checkmate Pattern 2: The King and Queen versus the lone King checkmate. To begin, the white King is on e1 & with the Queen on d1 versus the lone black King on e4.

Checkmate Pattern 2: In the Second Checkmate Pattern above, the student plays the white pieces–the white King & 1 Queen versus the lone black King.

The Assignment: White quickly checkmates the black King on the 8th rank, using the Queen & King.

King & 1 Rooks vs Lone King

Checkmate Pattern 3: The King and one Rook versus the lone King checkmate. To begin, the white King is on e1 & with Rooks on h1 versus the lone black King on e4.

Checkmate Pattern 3: In the Third Checkmate Pattern above, the student plays the white pieces–the white King & one Rook versus the lone black King. 

The Assignment: White quickly checkmates the black King on the 8th rank, using one Rook & the King. Here in this pattern, the players will learn to use the waiting move–or “tempo” move.

King & 6 Pawns vs. King & 4 Pawns

Checkmate Pattern 4: The white King and 6 Pawns versus the black King and 4 Pawns checkmate. To begin, the white King is on e1 & with Pawns on  a2, b2, c2, f2, g2 and h2 versus the black King on e8 with Pawns on a7, b7, g7 and h7.

Checkmate Pattern 4: In the Fourth Checkmate Pattern above, the student plays the white pieces–the white King & six Pawns versus the black King & four Pawns.

The Assignment: White quickly

1) centers the King; 

2) creates passed pawns on King-side & Queen-side of the board;

3) promotes a passed pawn to a Queen; and

4) quickly checkmates the black King with a new Queen and the King.

A REASONABLE EXPECTATION:

With several practice sessions, given any one of these Four Checkmate Endgame Patterns above and 60-seconds on a chess clock, students can easily master and demonstrate the checkmate pattern–as quickly and as well as they can spell their names!

After mastering the Four Checkmate Endgame Patterns, students are ready to complete Checkmate! Ideas For Students workbook! Checkmate! Ideas For Students is a workbook for beginning and intermediate students that covers the tactics used in checkmate attacks with clear explanations, diagrams and arrows to pinpoint the key features.

Unlike many other basic checkmate books, Checkmate! categorizes the checkmates by the tactics used to force the checkmate–like Pins, Sacrifices, Removing the Guard, Attraction, Clearance and Attacking Flight Squares–rather than only the checkmate pattern itself.

The worksheets and Answer Key are clear and simple for the student to use, and easy for the parent, teacher and coach to correct! Fun!

Jose Raul Capablanca

Remember! “In order to improve your game, you must study the endgame before everything else, for whereas the endings can be studied and mastered by themselves, the middle game and the opening must be studied in relation to the endgame.”

-Jose Raul Capablanca, World Chess Champion from Cuba, 1921-27.

NEXT> Part 3: Chess Clubs – Where, When & Equipment covers location, meeting times and chess equipment for great scholastic chess clubs!

What Makes “Chess Clubs For Students” Work?

Parts 1-6

by John Bain

Intro: What Makes “Chess Clubs For Students” Work? outlines practices for building a well-attended, successful chess club.

Part 1 – Basic Chess Skills and Psychology For Students emphasizes how learning the Chess Rules and Three Psychological Practices enable students to become stronger players.

Part 2 – Basic Endgame Checkmate Patterns For Students covers Four Basic Endgame Checkmate Patterns that will yield collateral benefits to all aspects of a student’s games.

Part 3  – Choosing Location, Meeting Times & Equipment demonstrates that the right location, the right meeting times, and quality chess equipment will foster enthusiastic student chess club participation.

Part 4.1 to 4.6 – Chess Club Activities For Students shows that activities that are fun–and that improve chess knowledge and skills–are the lifeblood of a well-run, great chess club!

Part 5 – How to Promote Chess Clubs in Schools presents the very best, promising practices for promoting school chess clubs.

Part 6 – What Chess Teaches Kids About Life notes the virtues, lessons and life skills that chess teaches!

NEXT> Part 3: Chess Clubs – Where, When & Equipment covers location, meeting times and chess equipment for great scholastic chess clubs!