Model mate

Michal Dragoun
Phénix 1993

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									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

A model mate is a type of pure mate checkmating position in chess in which not only is the checkmated king and all vacant squares in its field attacked only once, and squares in the king's field occupied by friendly units are not also attacked by the mating side (unless such a unit is necessarily pinned to the king), but all units of the mating side (with the possible exception of the king and pawns) participate actively in forming the mating net.

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.

Example

The diagram shows a helpmate in two moves by Michal Dragoun, Czech helpmate expert, published in 1993 in French magazine Phénix. It has two solutions ending in model mates (Black moves first in helpmates):

• 1. Re3 Ke6 2. Ke4 Rh4#
• 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 above helpmate are ideal mates.

See also

• Chess problem terminology
• Genrikh Kasparyan