Famous Mates in Famous Games
Famous mates in famous games show the same patterns from this course in real play, including the Opera game finish, the Légal trap, and Scholar's mate.
The Opera game finish
Morphy finishes the Opera game with Rd8, and the rook mates on the back rank after the queen sacrifice.
FEN: 1n1Rkb1r/p4ppp/4q3/4p1B1/4P3/8/PPP2PPP/2K5 b k - 1 17
a b c d e f g h
8 . n . R k b . r 8
7 p . . . . p p p 7
6 . . . . q . . . 6
5 . . . . p . B . 5
4 . . . . P . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 P P P . . P P P 2
1 . . K . . . . . 1
a b c d e f g hThe Légal trap finish
White finishes the Légal trap with Nd5, and the knight mates with the bishop's support.
FEN: r2q1bnr/ppp1kBpp/2np4/3NN3/4P3/7P/PPPP1PP1/R1BbK2R b KQ - 2 8
a b c d e f g h
8 r . . q . b n r 8
7 p p p . k B p p 7
6 . . n p . . . . 6
5 . . . N N . . . 5
4 . . . . P . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . P 3
2 P P P P . P P . 2
1 R . B b K . . R 1
a b c d e f g hScholar's mate finish
White finishes Scholar's mate with Qxf7, and the bishop on c4 protects the queen.
FEN: r1bqkb1r/pppp1Qpp/2n2n2/4p3/2B1P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNB1K1NR b KQkq - 0 4
a b c d e f g h
8 r . b q k b . r 8
7 p p p p . Q p p 7
6 . . n . . n . . 6
5 . . . . p . . . 5
4 . . B . P . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 P P P P . P P P 2
1 R N B . K . N R 1
a b c d e f g hKey points
- The Opera game finishes with a rook mate on the back rank, after a queen sacrifice on b8.
- The Légal trap finishes with a knight mate, after the queen is sacrificed to a bishop.
- Scholar's mate finishes with a queen taking on f7, protected by a bishop on c4.
- Real games reward the same reading skill as composed mates, because every escape square must be counted first.
- Study famous finishes by asking which piece gives check and which pieces take the escape squares.
Try it Yourself
Edit the code, then press Run.
Running is simulated · Rust Playground
Exercise
Find the checkmate in this position.