Anastasia's Mate
Anastasia's Mate is a beautiful geometric pattern where a Knight and Rook collaborate to trap the King on the edge of the board. The defining feature is the Knight's positioning (usually on e7 or e2), which cuts off the King's lateral escape squares.
In real games, this checkmate pattern is often disguised by enemy pieces. The key to tactical mastery is learning to "work backwards"—sacrificing your own pieces to strip away these defenders until the pure pattern is revealed.
Anastasia’s Mate: Key Patterns and Typical Setups
The examples below show the most common ways Anastasia’s Mate appears in practical play. You’ll see how a Knight traps the King on the edge of the board, while a Rook or Queen delivers the final checkmate—sometimes immediately, sometimes after a forcing sacrifice to open the file.
1. The Raw Pattern
The bare skeleton of the mate. The Knight on e7 covers g8 and g6, trapping the King on the h-file. The Rook delivers the final blow.
1.Rh5#
2. The Classic Disguise
The most common version. The Knight is already on e2, but the h-file is blocked. We sacrifice the Queen to open it.
22...Qxh2+ 23.Kxh2 Rh4#
3. The Long Combination
A complex sequence. Black forces the King to the a-file using a Queen sacrifice and a Knight check.
33...Qc1+ 34.Rxc1 Nd2+ 35.Ka2 Ra8+ 36.Qa4 Rxa4#
4. Forcing the File Open
With the Knight on e7 cutting off escape, White rips open the h-file.
13.Qxh7+ Kxh7 14.Rh5#
5. The Delayed Jump
First, the Knight jumps into position (e7) to seal the trap. Only then comes the sacrifice.
17.Ne7+ Kh8 18.Rxh7+ Kxh7 19.Rh1#
6. Hammer vs. Carlsen
Magnus Carlsen spots the pattern immediately. If White takes the Queen (gxh5), the Rook mates on h4.
17...Qh5+ 0-1 (threat: gxh5 Rh4#)