Famous checkmate patterns

Some mating patterns come up so often that they have names: Anastasia's mate, the Arabian mate, Boden's mate, the Opera mate, the hook, the dovetail, the double bishop mate and more.

Knowing them by shape is a shortcut. Once you recognise the pattern, you stop calculating and start looking for the move that sets it up.

How to spot it

• Two bishops on crossing diagonals, a rook and knight in the corner, a queen supported on the edge - each is a named shape.
• Find the final picture first. The setup move is usually a sacrifice.
• Notice which of the king's squares its own pieces block.