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Anderssen's Mate

Anderssen's mate is a queen mate on the back rank, where the queen gives check and the king's own pawns block the escape. The queen on the back rank attacks the whole rank, and the king's own pawns fill the escape squares.

The finished shape

This is the finished shape. Anderssen's mate is a queen mate on the back rank, where the queen gives check and the king's own pawns block the escape.

FEN: Q5k1/5ppp/8/8/8/8/8/5K2 b - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 Q . . . . . k . 8
7 . . . . . p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . . K . . 1
  a b c d e f g h

The worked example

White plays the mating move here. The queen on the back rank attacks the whole rank, and the king's own pawns fill the escape squares.

FEN: r5k1/5ppp/8/8/8/8/8/Q4K2 w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r . . . . . k . 8
7 . . . . . p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 Q . . . . K . . 1
  a b c d e f g h

How to prevent it

Black plays h6 first. The pawn move opens an escape square, so the mate no longer works.

FEN: r5k1/5ppp/8/8/8/8/8/Q4K2 b - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r . . . . . k . 8
7 . . . . . p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 Q . . . . K . . 1
  a b c d e f g h

Key points

  • The queen on the back rank attacks the whole rank, and the king's own pawns fill the escape squares.
  • The worked example ends with Qxa8.
  • To prevent it, keep an escape square open for the king before the queen arrives.
  • Black plays h6 first. The pawn move opens an escape square, so the mate no longer works.
  • Check every escape square before you play the mating move, because one open square breaks the mate.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated · Rust Playground

Exercise

Find the checkmate in this position.