L-Square Mate Examples

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L-Square Mate Examples
Compiled by ChessCoachClark

The carpenter, art frame builder and other craftsmen use an L-square to check that two pieces are joined in perpendicular fashion. A checkmate pattern with two Rooks (or with a Rook and Queen or two Queens) can use these two orthographic line pieces, one on each arm of a visualized L-square as well.

Another contender for the title could be the Intersection Mate. The pattern is visually striking. It often needs "helpers," whether on the same team or not.

The mate pattern may occur in one of two forms, where the targeted King is on a bar/arm of the L-square and where the other King is outside both bars/arms.

This game listed below:
M Umansky vs M Blokh, 1983 has several continuations, with an M6 line from Stockfish 17 that leads to an L-Square Mate outside the bar:

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Another game listed below
D Janaszak vs M Chigaev, 2017 ends by actual play with the King on a bar in Q2 by a Rook with Queen support:

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ChessCoachClark established this game collection on October 28, 2024 and he updates it on occasion. This project is a work in progress, culling games from various sources, including several chess training books and personal research. The games are ordered by date (oldest first), not by importance.

Be well.
Be safe.

EOG mate threat after 34...Rxc1, but Knight changes pattern.
von Bardeleben vs Alekhine, 1908
(C41) Philidor Defense, 33 moves, 0-1
SF 17 M1 33. ... Kf8 34. Rg8#. King on a bar.
L Spassov vs J Kozma, 1965
(B47) Sicilian, Taimanov (Bastrikov) Variation, 33 moves, 1-0
45. hxg4 Rh6 46. Kg1 Rd1# Mate in Q2 on a bar of two Rooks
Simagin vs Kholmov, 1966
(D31) Queen's Gambit Declined, 44 moves, 0-1
SF 17 M6 ends with mate outside in Q1 by Rook w/Queen aid
M Umansky vs M Blokh, 1983
(A72) Benoni, Classical without 9.O-O, 38 moves, 1-0
EOG is this mate on a bar by Queen and Rook in Q2.
M Cardinali vs S Polgar, 1989
(A49) King's Indian, Fianchetto without c4, 40 moves, 0-1
SF 17 M5 is a Q-R mate in Q1 with the King outside the bars.
B Snow vs P Mueckenberger, 1990
(B23) Sicilian, Closed, 40 moves, 1-0
EOG threatens an L-Square Mate outside bars of two Rooks in Q1
Salov vs Seirawan, 1992
(D21) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 36 moves, 1-0
31...Qd8 32.Rxd8# On a bar in Q1 by two Rooks with Queen aid
B Socko vs Sasikiran, 1995
(B81) Sicilian, Scheveningen, Keres Attack, 31 moves, 1-0
SF 17 M4 brings mate in Q3 outside of two Rooks bars.
S J Szpisjak vs O Adu, 2000
(C14) French, Classical, 29 moves, 0-1
33. Kg2 Rxh2# in Q2 outside Rook and Queen with Bishop aid
J M Dominguez vs Iturrizaga Bonelli, 2007
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 32 moves, 0-1
Cont: L-Square Mate outside bars (or Cradle Mate by Rook)
J Vrtal vs P Vecera, 2012
(A21) English, 28 moves, 1-0
EOG is this mate on the bar in Q2 by Rook with Queen support.
D Janaszak vs M Chigaev, 2017
(A45) Queen's Pawn Game, 40 moves, 0-1
38. ... Rb8 39. Rxb8# Q4 outside by Rook with Queen support.
H T Jacobsen vs H Ragnarsson, 2017
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 38 moves, 1-0
13 games

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