Chess Non Stop
Knight & Rook Synergy: A Guide to the Pattern
From Good to Great: Pro-Level Tips
The Queen Sacrifice is the Key
The most common way to set up Anastasia's Mate is with a queen sacrifice on the h-file (e.g., Qxh7+). This move looks shocking, but its purpose is singular: to clear the path for your rook. Always be on the lookout for this sacrificial pattern.
Spot the Knight's "Control Square"
The whole pattern hinges on the knight. Before you even consider the rook, identify the key square your knight needs to land on to control the king's escape. All your setup moves should be focused on getting your knight to that critical square.
A Move That Made History: Greco vs. NN, 1620
This classic game by Gioachino Greco is one of the earliest recorded examples of the Anastasia's Mate theme. Greco masterfully uses a series of threats to drive the opponent's queen away and land his knight on the powerful f7 square. From there, the threat of the mate is so strong it decides the game. It teaches that the pattern is often the end result of a beautifully executed attack.
The Winning Combination: 8. c3 Ba5 9. Bg5 Qg6 10. Nxe5 Qxg5 11. Nxf7!