Recognizing Checkmate Positions

Let's take a look at a number of positions, and determine whether or not they are checkmate.

Position 1

Here, white has lined up his rooks on the 7th and 8th ranks. The black King is in check, and has no way to escape. So the answer is yes, this is checkmate.

Position 2

Here, the white Queen checks the black King. Black can't capture the white Queen because she is protected by the white King. Black has no square the move his King to escape check. Yes, black is checkmated.

Position 3

In this position, it looks like black might be in checkmate. His King has no safe escape square. But wait, the white Queen is unprotected - black can simply capture the white Queen with his King! In fact, black must capture the Queen, as this is his only legal move. This position is not checkmate.

Position 4

Here, the black King is in check from the white Rook. It looks like he might be able to escape to the h7 square. But this square is attacked by the white Bishop! Black has no way to escape check - he is checkmated.

Position 5

What about this position - do you think black is checkmated?

If you look closely, you'll notice a couple of things. First, black has no square that he can move his King to. But equally important is the fact that the black King is not in check. So, black is not in check, and he has no legal move. This is stalemate, not checkmate. The game is drawn.

Position 6

One final tricky position to consider. Do you think black is checkmated?

You'll have to look carefully to see all of the possibilities here.

The answer is yes. Black is in check, and has no escaping move. Check each adjacent square carefully, and notice that each is protected by a white piece.