What is checkmate in chess?

Checkmate is a position where the king is in check and there is no legal move to escape: you cannot move the king away, capture the checking piece, or block the check. The game ends immediately.

How do you get out of check?

You can escape check by moving the king to a safe square, capturing the checking piece, or blocking the check (if it is delivered by a rook, bishop, or queen). If none are possible, it is checkmate.

Checkmate in Chess – 15 Classic Examples & Patterns

Checkmate is the ultimate goal of chess. It occurs when the king is in check and has no legal escape. Understanding how checkmate works—and recognizing common mating patterns—is the first step to winning games. This guide illustrates classic checkmates so you can deliver the final blow with confidence.

The Final Goal: The King Is Attacked With No Escape

Checkmate is the ultimate objective of the game, marking the immediate end of the struggle.

♔ Definition: Checkmate means the king is in check and there is no legal move to escape — you cannot move the king, capture the attacker, or block the check.

✅ The game ends immediately.

A check is only a threat. Checkmate is the moment the threat cannot be met. To recognize checkmate quickly, remember the three defenses against check:

Move the king to a safe square
Capture the checking piece
Block the check (only possible vs rook/bishop/queen)

Practical tip: When you think you have mate, calmly ask: “Can the king move? Can the attacker be captured? Can the check be blocked?” If the answer is no to all three — it’s checkmate.

15 Classic Checkmate Examples (With Diagrams)

1) Back Rank Checkmate

King trapped behind its own pawns; Queen delivers the final blow.

White to move: Re8#
The king has no “luft” (escape square), and the rook can’t be captured.

2) Ladder Mate (Two Rooks)

Two rooks “box in” the king. This diagram is already checkmate.

One rook gives check, the other rook protects it and removes escape squares.

3) Smothered Mate

A knight mates because the king is boxed in by its own pieces.

The king is surrounded — and the knight’s check cannot be blocked.

4) Scholar’s Mate

Queen + bishop target f7 (or f2). This diagram is already mate.

The king is checked and cannot capture the queen because it is protected by the bishop.

5) Fool’s Mate

The fastest mate possible (a classic beginner trap). This diagram is already mate.

The diagonal check cannot be blocked (the g-pawn moved), and the king has no safe squares.

6) Arabian Mate (Rook + Knight)

Rook checks the cornered king; the knight removes the last escape square.

A very instructive “basic pattern” for rook + knight cooperation.

7) Damiano Mate

Queen mates on h7 (or h2) supported by a pawn, often with a rook covering the last escape.

The king can’t capture the queen because the bishop protects it.

8) “Kiss of Death” (Queen Next to King)

A queen delivers mate from an adjacent square — but only if it’s protected.

The king cannot capture the queen because it is protected by the white king.

9) Basic King + Queen Mate

The queen “boxes” the king; your king supports and removes escapes.

A fundamental mating technique every player should master.

10) Queen + Rook Mate

Heavy pieces coordinate so the checked king has no safe square.

The rook gives check; the queen prevents capture and removes the flight squares.

11) Queen + Bishop Corner Mate

Queen gives the checkmate; Bishop protects the Queen.

Very common in practical games: the bishop “locks” the corner.

12) Back Rank Mate (Queen)

Same concept as back-rank rook mate — but delivered by the queen.

If there’s no escape square and no capture, a single check ends the game.

13) Queen + Knight Mate

Knight removes key escape squares; queen delivers the finishing check.

Knights are brilliant “escape-square killers” near the enemy king.

14) Smothered Mate (Corner Version)

Another smothered mate geometry (very memorable for pattern recognition).

The king is boxed by its own pieces — and the knight’s check cannot be blocked.

Checkmate in Chess