GoAL OF THE LESSON
• learning another skill in delivering mate • learning to play in accordance with a plan
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
• everything about mate and stalemate
ACQUISITION
Instruction
The number of games in which students aimlessly look for a mate when only the queen is left, is legendary. It is easy to use the examples from the students ' games for this purpose. The advantage is that the stu dents will be motivated to learn how they can checkmate the opponent's king in the easiest way possible.
Mating with the queen has to be learned in three separate steps: the mating pattern, bringing the king into play and driving the enemy king to the edge of the board. These three parts will be discussed in turn. By presenting the mating pattern, we take the final goal as the point of departure. In the diagram (Q) there are two mating patterns. Tell the students to think of other mating positions too. Emphasize that the queen cannot deliver mate all by herself; coope ration with the king is necessary.
We exercise mate in one move with the positions in the diagram ({l.). On the left White has a choice between five moves; there is no choice on the right. Give a few more difficult examples depending on the
level of the group.
The exercise sheet that accompanies this lesson can be completed at this moment. Look under Workbook.
When mate in one with the queen has been exercised, we proceed to the previous phase in delivering mate: approaching with the king. We know that the black king cannot be mated by the queen all by her self. In the diagram (1)') the king has to assist. Point out that the black king still has an escape square left where he can move to. Black moves with his king back and forth. The white king moves to f6 and White then delivers mate. We can check whether the children have understood this step by placing the king on another square. We now proceed to the technique of dri ving the king to the edge of the board with the queen. We set up the diagram (Q) on the demonstration board for this purpose. The queen on e5 keeps the black king in his prison. He cannot move cross the fifth rank or the e-file. A possible sequence is:
1. • • • Kc6-b6 2. QeS-dS (makes the jail
smaller yet) 2. • • • Kb6-c7 3. QdS-e6
Kc7-d8 4. Ke6-t7 (The king has access to the eighth rank only.) 4 • • • • Kd8-c8 s. Qt7-
e7 Kc8-b8 6. Qe7-d7 Kb8-a8. At this moment the danger of stalemating the king has to be pointed out. The black king al ways has to retain one square to which he can move.
At this point, phase two takes effect: the king approaches. Smart children will point out that the white king can be brought in as soon as after move four.
The process of mating with the queen has been learned in the reverse sequence, from the final phase - which is easy and
recognisable - to the initial position. Even though this is not the quickest method, it is the simplest one.
To complete the subject, we tell two stu dents to finish the position in the diagram ( '0') on the demonstration board. We repeat the strategies of the player with the queen during the mating process.
Summary
Mating a king with king and queen can be accomplished using a simple plan. The freedom to move the king must be reduced constantly. The danger is that the jail be comes too small (stalemate). When the king has only one square left, the oppo nent's king comes to assist the queen.
PRACTICE Playing format
The children must exercise delivering mate with the queen in practical play. This skill can be acquired only through playing. The possibilities depend on the size of the group.
Playing simultaneously (size of the group < 12)
The students will take the side of the player with the queen. Do not hesitate to point out errors during their play; some guidance will prove to be very useful. Skipping a move is not a problem either, although this will not occur very often.
Students playing against each other (size of group > 12)
have to mate each other. After a successful attempt, the player with the queen takes the side with the king alone.
A drawback of this method is that playing the side of king alone tends to be boring. The only success that the side with the king only can obtain is a stalemate, and even that outcome will be due to a mistake of the opponent.
A good solution is to involve older students of the higher steps. They will be pleased to assist.
Playing against the computer (one child per computer)
The computer will be a grateful participant in game fragments in which superiority is very large. He will continue to play moves without complaining. The number of moves until mate offers a good indication as to how far the skill has been mastered.
Workbook
D Mate / Mate in one with the queen: A l3J
Explanation: The students will have little difficulty with this sheet. The idea is that they will learn to recognise the mating pattern with the queen and king.
ANSWERS
D Mate / Mate in one with the queen: A I ) 1 . Qc2-c8# 6) 1 . Qf6-fl # 2) I . Qd4-h8# 7) I . Qb3-g8# 3) 1 . Qh4-e7# 8) 1 . Qc2-b l #, 4) 1 . Qb7-f7# (c l , d l , g2, h2) 5) I . Qf7-b7# 9) I . Qe2-g4#, h2 1 0) I . Qd5-a2# (a8) 1 1 ) 1 . Qg3-h2# (h3 , h4, g6) 1 2) I . Qb5-a4# (a5, b7)