Arabian Mate and Variation Puzzles

Do you remember the Arabian Mate?  Check out this article first, also by Mrs Jessica E Prescott (aka BoundingOwl).  Then, practice checkmates in one move using only a rook or a knight!  The knight, rook, and king are the oldest pieces in chess; they are about 1500 years old!!  That's older than your oldest grandpa's grandpa.  It's older than waffles, xbox360, ds, smartboards, football, ... but maybe not dirt or crocodiles.

You don't always need a queen to make checkmate.  Some people are kind of obsessed with their queens.  Give every piece a chance!

 

1.  Traditional Arabian Mate.  White to move.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  Minor piece checkmate.  Black to move.

 

 

 

 

 

3.  A tactical checkmate!  What tactic did you use?  White to move.

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Trapped!  Black to move.

 

 

 

 

 

5.  Checkmate and guard.  White to move.

 

 

 

 

 

6.  A rook sandwich?  Black to move.

 

 

 

 

How did you do?  Remember that each piece is different and special.  Pieces like to work together, just like people!  

Tip of the week:  You know that the more you practice something the better you get, and the better you get the more confidence you feel.  So have some checkmates with every meal!