CheckMate with Two Bishops

Bishops

We said in the previous blog "Rook checkmate", that the basic checkmate can only be accomplished  with the opponent King on the side rows. When the Queen or Rook chess pieces are Checkmating, it does not matter which square the King is located on.

But when you checkmate with two Bishops, the King has to be located in a corner of the chessboard. See the diagram.

Bishops Force Checkmate

This is a perfect Checkmate position with the Bishops forcing the checkmate. There is no way to get the King out of check. The White King and the White Bishops are controlling every square that the Black King could move to.

Remember, the Bishop chess piece only moves diagonally. Check out the diagram. One White Bishop has the Black King in check. If the Black King moves to one square, the other Bishop can capture him. If the Black King moves to the other square, the White King can capture him. There are only 3 moves for the Black King, and all 3 squares that he can move to are controlled by the White chess pieces. Review the King chess piece moves.

Results:

The Black King is Checkmated!
Game over!
The White Chess Pieces win!

Next:  Checkmate with a Bishop and Knight chess pieces.


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Chess - Rook Forces Checkmate

King, Queen, Bishop, Knight,
Rook, Pawn

We saw how the Queen forces checkmate in CheckMate - Definitely. Now let's see how the chess piece Rook, forces Checkmate.

White Queen Checkmating

In the diagram you will see a Rook checkmating the King. It is a foolproof position. Look closely to find out why this is so. If, in the first diagram, you replace the White Queen with the White Rook, there is no checkmate. The Black King can move easily away and avoid capture. This is because the Rook can only move vertically or horizontally. If the King moves to a square diagonal to the Rook, the Rook chess piece can not capture the opponent King.

Now we can find out why, in this next diagram, the Rook has the King in a strong checkmate position that the King can not get out of. It is truly Checkmate.

Black Rook Forces Checkmate

The Black Rook has the White King "in check." (Remember, "in check" is not the same as Checkmate.) The White chess pieces can not capture the Rook and no white chess piece can block the Rooks "in check" position. No chess piece interrupts the line of attack.

The White King can not move out of check. Anywhere the White King moves in the last row, he can not get out of the range of the Rook. The White King can not move to the second row, because the second row is controlled by the Black King. There are only 3 squares that the White King can move to in the second row, straight or diagonal. The White King can be captured in all three squares, which are the only moves that the White King can move to in the second row.

Whew! So here we have a definite position of checkmate:
Black won the chess game!


Explanation:
There are basic checkmates, and the vulnerable King (the one to get checkmated), must be forced to a side row.

With the opposite Queen and Rook positions, it does not matter which square the King is on, as long as it is in the side rows. It has to be an outermost row.

But we will see a different situation with the Bishop Checkmate!



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CheckMate - Definitely

When a King is in check, he is not necessarily in Checkmate.

Queen with the King

The previous posts have show checks that may lead to checkmate, but now we will discuss Checkmate. After studying the Queen piece moves, we can understand the following chess moves.

A Queen move can force Checkmate, and this is how:

 Look at this diagram closely. Why is this a checkmate position?
Review the Queen's capturing powers.

1. The White Queen is attacking Black King. This is a check.
2. No chess piece can capture the Queen.
3. No piece can block the attack.

Three conditions to look for before either side moves. Let's continue the play:
1. The King cannot flee from the attack.
2. Every square that the King tries to move to is in the range of capturing.

(In the case of this diagram, the Black King can not get out of the way of the White Queen or White King. If he attacks the White Queen, the White King will capture him. He cannot move to any square next to him because they are controlled by the opponent  chess pieces.)

In Summary:
Checkmate complete!
The chess game is over!
Black side lost! 


Explanation:
In chess, the King is never captured (unlike real war situations).
Checkmate just means that the King cannot move out of a capturing situation and that is what ends the game.

If the White King was not protecting his Queen, the Black King could have gotten away by capturing the White Queen. The White King was nearby and was actively participating in the check.

Next, we will see how the Rook forces checkmate.

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Chess Knight - Forking Checks

Chess Players

Forking Checks is not checkmate, but close to it. If the King is not able to get away from the move, then it goes into checkmate.

Knight attacks 2 pieces

A Knight attacks the King and another chess piece in one move. See what this looks like on the diagram here.

The Knight has many formidable powers, and this is one of his powers. When 2 chess pieces are caught "on the prongs of a Knight's forking check," the chess game is all but lost.

This is where critical thinking in chess comes into the play. Knowing this can happen, avoiding being put into this move and trying to use this move to your advantage can be a real challenge.

What would help you avoid this play? Being extremely aware of the Knights capable moves. Keep your eyes on the opponent Knights moves. Remember how the Knights capture and that there are 2 of them.

Try to use this play. Keep your eyes open for situations where you can use this play. It is extremely effective and is worth the concentrated effort.

What fun to surprise your opponent by either skillfully avoiding this chess puzzle, or by using it to your advantage.

Look at these other Chess Checks:
Chess Check
Discovered Check
Double Check

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Checkmate - Double Check

Any chess piece can attack

We're going basic here so we can catch the correct strategies at the beginning. If things are not clear, please feel free to comment.

We discussed the Discovered Check and how it could become so dangerous to the defender and we want to go into further detail here. The danger lies in the possibility of a double attack. The chess pieces move so differently, that many times a beginner will not catch on to what is happening until it happens. It may not be too late, but there are some ways to prevent this from happening if you look for it.

Your opponent may move a chess piece to get into position to attack an undefended chess piece and in moving will uncover a discovered check. There is how you get attacked from two different opponent chess pieces in one move. It can be difficult to get out of this situation, so it is best not to get into it.

If there is no time to defend, the check must be considered first. You must get the King out of check first since it will be the loss of the whole game if you do not. Not good.

The discovered check makes a very touchy situation. A double check is even worse. In this next diagram, we are putting a rook in between the Black King and the White Queen. The White Rook has moved into a position that reveals the White Queen giving check to the Black King.

The White Rook uncovered a discovered check by the Queen by moving to the left two squares. Now not only is the White Queen giving check, but the White Rook is also giving check. Can you see a way out? If not - you ARE in trouble!

Double Check

Here's some suggestions: Which one will work?
1. Position another chess piece in the middle of the attacks.
2. Capture one of the attacking chess pieces.
3. Move the King out of the path of the attack.

Answer:  We realize all the other chess pieces are not in position here and so at this time you can not tell which method will work. 

1. But usually your other chess pieces will not be able to get into position to prevent an attack unless you were watching for this discovered check move. 
2. If you capture one of the attacking chess pieces, that still leaves the other piece to attack. That will not work because you only have one move. 
3. The only answer to this puzzle is that you have to move the King out of check. If you can not do that then the game is lost.

This is only the third type of check:

• Checkmate
• Discovered Check
• Forked Check

Next we will cover the Forked Check.

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