Model mate (original) (raw)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A model mate is a type of pure mate checkmating position in chess in which:

Model mates are extremely rare in practical play, but they add value to chess problems as they are considered artistic. In fact, they form the basis of the so-called Bohemian school of chess composition, most fruitful in threemovers and moremovers. Model mates are very usual in helpmates and they appear often in selfmates too.

Miroslav Havel
1st Prize, Zlata Praha 1910

a b c d e f g h
8 g8 white queenf7 white rookf6 black pawne5 black pawnf5 black kinga4 white kingg4 white knighte3 white bishopd2 black knightc1 black knight 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h

Mate in three moves

This example shows a problem by Miroslav Havel. The key 1. Bc5!! gives a flight square for the black king and threatens 2.Rxf6+ Ke4 3.Nf2# with a model mate. The main variations end with model mates from white batteries:

1... Kf4 2. Nxf6 (threat 3.Qg4#) 2... e4 3. Nd7#, and

1... Ke4 2. Nf2+ Kd5 3. Rc7#

There are several other variations (after 1...Ne4 and 1...Ke6), which do not end with model mates, and allow for multiple continuations. In the Bohemian school they are irrelevant, as long as they end with a mate in a prescribed number of moves.

Michal Dragoun
Phénix 1993

a b c d e f g h
8 d7 white kinge5 white knighth5 white rookd4 black kinge4 black rook 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h

Helpmate in two moves (h#2), two solutions

This example shows a helpmate, in which both sides cooperate to achieve a mate to the black king. It has two solutions ending in model mates (Black moves first in helpmates):

1. Re3 Ke6 2. Ke4 Rh4#, and

1. Kc5 Kc7 2. Rc4 Nc6#

If all units of both colours are involved in a model mate, then it is an ideal mate. Both mates in the presented helpmate are ideal mates.