


With this in mind, let us look at the following position: Here we are going to explore a checkmating pattern in the middlegame involving the queen and the bishop. The best way to identify a pattern is to strip away all extraneous material. The patterns are not as familiar, however, when more material is present. You can learn these in our book “ Great Moves: Learning Chess Through History.” These checkmating patterns are well known in positions where one of the players has been reduced to a lone king. In order to achieve this, he needs to follow a prescribed sequence of moves from a recognizable position. The serious chess player appreciates that a checkmate needs to be carefully planned and diligently executed. Suddenly, the game does not seem quite as easy. Checkmate! How else can we explain the continuing fascination of the Scholar’s Mate? The realization that such wishful thinking is far divorced from the reality of serious tournament play is a sobering thought. But what exactly is the best way to realize this goal? Most beginning players will attempt to score a quick knockout by setting a trap that they hope will go unnoticed by their opponent. With such a vast subject as chess, students find it less intimidating if the instructor breaks the content down into smaller “chunks.” In these articles on Checkmating Patterns, FM Weeramantry demonstrates how acquiring a solid understanding of even one small aspect of the game generates confidence in one ’s abilities and can serve as a springboard for success.Īll chess players will agree that the ultimate objective of chess is to checkmate your opponent. At-Risk Youth & Juvenile Justice Programs.
