Lesson 6 Check, Checkmate, and Notation

In Diagram 27, White is going to play his Bishop to the d3 square. With that move, Black’s King is in check. This means that his King is being attacked by the Bishop. But, he also has a safe square to move to. That square is c1. The White Rook attacks the a1 square. So, Black cannot move there. Diagram 28 shows White’s move and then shows Black’s only response, which is King to c1.

Now, White is at a cross road. He can end the game with checkmate. Checkmate is where a King is in check and cannot get out of check. Every square is covered by the opponent White will play his Rook to a1.

         Diagram 27           Diagram 28            Diagram 29

Black is now checkmated (Diagram 29). The Rook attacks b1, c1, and d1. The White King attacks b2, c2, and d2. Since the Black King is on c1, he is in check and cannot escape.

Recording Your Moves

Because each square and piece has a name, we can record our moves. Let’s look at "Fools Mate."  Diagram 30 shows the move g4. It can also be written as g2-g4. Black plays e5. This move can also be written as e7-e5 as shown in Diagram 31.

           Diagram 30 1. g2-g4

           Diagram 31 1 .... e7-e5

     Diagram 32

White plays the horrible 2 f3. This move is also recorded as 2. f2-f3.

       Diagram 33

Black wins with 2 .... Qh4# or 2 .... d8-h4#

On your score sheet, it would look like this:

        White Black

1. g2-g4 e7-e5

2. f2-f3        d8-h4#

Now, let us try "Scholar’s Mate." Take your chess board and set up your pieces. I will give you the moves. It will be your job to move the pieces. If you are having problems with understanding the moves, follow Diagrams 34-37.

Scholar’s Mate looks as follows:

White Black

1. e2-e4 e7-e5

2. d1-h5 b8-c6

3. f1-c4 g8-f6

4. h5xf7 #

             Diagram 34      Diagram 35       

      1. e2-e4 e7-e5                                                                                                                         2. d1-h5 b8-c6

             Diagram 36      Diagram 37       

     3. f1-c4 g8-f6                                                                                                                             4. h5xf7#

In writing down your moves, "#" means checkmate and "+" means check. We will now look at checkmate with two Rooks.

             Diagram 38      Diagram 39        

        Mate with 2 Rooks 1. a4-a2+                                                                                                     1. .... f2-e1  2. b3-b1#

The following will be checkmate with a Queen.      

               Diagram 40       Diagram 41       

        1. c5-c6 c8-b8                                                                                                                         2. e7-b7#

Checkmate with just a Rook

               Diagram 42        Diagram 43      

        1. c7-c6  The Rook can move anywhereon the "c’ file except for c8.                                         1. .... b8-a8

                Diagram 44

        2. c6-c8 #