Rules & notation
Checkmate
The king is in check and there is no legal way out — the game is over.
Checkmate ends the game immediately. The attacked king cannot move to safety, the check cannot be blocked, and the checking piece cannot be captured.
Every plan in chess ultimately serves this one goal; material and position are just means to arrange it.
Why it matters
It is the object of the game — and learning the basic mating patterns (back rank, smothered, ladder) is what lets you finish won positions.
The mistake everyone makes
Playing for material so single-mindedly that you miss a forced mate sitting in the position.
Related terms
Back-rank mate
Checkmate on the back rank against a king trapped by its own pawns.
Smothered mate
A knight delivers mate to a king trapped by its own pieces.
Stalemate
The side to move has no legal move and is not in check — the game is an immediate draw.
Double check
Two pieces give check at the same time; the king must move.
See Checkmate in your own games
Play the engine, train tactics, and analyse your games — ChessRanger points out these patterns as they come up so the word turns into a skill. Free to start.
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