Corridor Mate
Corridor mate is a rook mate down a corridor, where the rook gives check along the file or rank and the walls of the corridor take the escape squares. The rook 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. Corridor mate is a rook mate down a corridor, where the rook gives check along the file or rank and the walls of the corridor take the escape squares.
FEN: R5k1/5ppp/8/8/8/8/8/5K2 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 . . . . . K . . 1
a b c d e f g hThe worked example
White plays the mating move here. The rook 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/R4K2 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 R . . . . K . . 1
a b c d e f g hHow 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/R4K2 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 R . . . . K . . 1
a b c d e f g hKey points
- The rook on the back rank attacks the whole rank, and the king's own pawns fill the escape squares.
- The worked example ends with Rxa8.
- To prevent it, keep an escape square open for the king before the rook 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.