1, 2, 3, 4 Rook and Bishop Torture

Mates in 1, 2, 3, and 4: Rook and Bishop Torture...by Ms Jessica Martin (aka BoundingOwl)

Rooks and bishops are like mini-queens, right?  Well, in this checkmate pattern, you don't even need the queen.  Some of my students are obsessed with their queens.  They're like, "Queen trade?!  No way, I LOVE my queen.  I NEED my queen!"  But actually you don't always need the old lady's help.

Even if the queen is really excited and holding a red heart...

 

This checkmate will use the ideas of helper mate, seatbelts, and discovered double check.  Let's start with an easy mate in one.  Watch how the fianchettoed bishop on b7 seatbelts the king on g1.  Kingy ain't gettin' out!

 

 

 

Now what if we go back a move?  Do you remember the disco double check lesson?  This is the most forcing tactic because the only way out is for the king to run away.

 

 

 

Mate in three.  (Sac and check!)  Forcing moves=checks, threats, and captures.

 

 

Last one.  Set up the mating net.  All of white's moves will be bad:  Zugzwang!

 

 

 

Excellent work!  You may have noticed that black hasn't castled in these positions.  Usually you are supposed to castle, right?  Right.  So why do you think black is okay here?

1. White's pieces are nowhere near attacking the black king. 

2.  Black can castle whenever he or she wants, on either side!

3.  Black's attack on white is faster.

 

I bet you didn't know this cute little bishop was so vicious...

You are now a super strong player!

see you next time...