FIDE SURVEYS – Miguel Illescas

1

Miguel Illescas:

Damiano´s mate

Knowledge of the basic mate structures is essential
to improve your play. This article is intended to help
players in the range 1600-2200 elo rating.

This is the basic final position of the mate that we
shall discuss in this article.

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9+-+-+-zpQ0
9-+-+-+P+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+K+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Basic Damiano´s mate position

Check out the key elements that take part: the
mating side has the queen and the pawn, while the
player receiving mate is castled and the escape
square is occupied, in this case by a rook.
There may be small variations, for example instead
of a rook – which is the most common case – we
may on occasions find a bishop obstructing the
escape route of the king, or the escape square might
be free but the flight to the center may not be very
safe.
All these considerations and many others will be
examined in depth in this article, with specific
examples.
Let us start with the following diagram, featuring
the position that appears in the original work of the
Portuguese player Damiano, published in 1512
under the title «Questo libro e da impare giocare a
scachi et de la partite»

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+qtrk+0
9+-+-+-zp-0
9-+-+-zpP+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-m+-+P+-+0
9+-+Q+R+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

Damiano: mate en five moves

Keeping in mind the basic mating position that we
saw in the first diagram it isn´t difficult to find the
winning combination, featuring a double rook
sacrifice:
1.Th8! Kh8 2.Th1 Kg8 3.Th8 Kh8 4.Dh1 Kg8
5.Dh7 mate.

Not bad for 1512!
By the way, Damiano places the pawn on 'e2' so the
white queen can´t move to the kingside using the
'h5' square, and therefore his intention is that the
double rook sacrifice must be forced to achieve the
mate. Although it is irrelevant for our purpose,
1.Dd5 will also mate in five moves: 1...Tf7 2.gf7
Df7 3.Th8! Kh8 4.Df7, followed by 5. Th1 mate.
In modern practice we can find games in which the
mating mechanism indicated by Damiano is
executed following the original script faithfully.

Baburin A. : Adianto U.
Liechtenstein 1993

XIIIIIIIIY
9q+r+k+-tr0
9+l+-+pzp-0
9p+-+psn-zp0
9zP-vl-+-+-0
9-zp-+P+-+0
9+-+L+-+-0
9-zP-sNQzPPzP0
9tR-vL-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

FIDE SURVEYS – Miguel Illescas

2

18.Kh1 h5!?
Black decides to attack from an equal position. The
solid alternative was 18...0–0.
19.f3 h4

XIIIIIIIIY
9q+r+k+-tr0
9+l+-+pzp-0
9p+-+psn-+0
9zP-vl-+-+-0
9-zp-+P+-zp0
9+-+L+P+-0
9-zP-sNQ+PzP0
9tR-vL-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy

20.Sc4?
As we shall soon see this move is a mistake. Also
20.Sb3? Sh5! 21.Sc5 Sg3 22.hg3 hg3 23.Kg1 Tc5
with the idea of doubling rooks would also be bad.
The knight had to be brought over to defend the
castled king: 20.Td1! Sh5 21.Sf1! and now if
21...Sg3?! 22.Sg3 hg3 23.h3 White has a firm grip.

20...Sh5! 21.Le3 Sg3!
Remember that this knight sacrifice can be seen
frequently in connection with the Damiano mating
pattern.

XIIIIIIIIY
9q+r+k+-tr0
9+l+-+pzp-0
9p+-+p+-+0
9zP-vl-+-+-0
9-zpN+P+-zp0
9+-+LvLPsn-0
9-zP-+Q+PzP0
9tR-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy

22.hg3 hg3 23.Kg1 Ke7!

XIIIIIIIIY
9q+r+-+-tr0
9+l+-mkpzp-0
9p+-+p+-+0
9zP-vl-+-+-0
9-zpN+P+-+0
9+-+LvLPzp-0
9-zP-+Q+P+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

The king had the key! The black queen, which
seemed to be so far away from the opponents
castled king, will follow the route a8-h8-h2,
winning the game.
24.De1 Th1! 0:1.

This mate is also seen frequently on the queenside.

Palacios E. : Visier F.
Malaga 1971

XIIIIIIIIY
9nmk-+-tr-tr0
9zpp+-vl-zpp0
9-+-+q+-+0
9zPPzppzPpzP-0
9-+-zP-+-zP0
9+-zP-+Q+-0
9-tR-+-+-+0
9tR-vL-mKL+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White has a clear advantage and therefore it wasn´t
strange that Ernesto Palacios, a strong player from
Seville, achieved the victory in a few moves.
24.b6! ab6
In order to keep the king safe, 24...a6 was
preferable, blocking the queenside. However, in
that case the knight on 'a8' will practically be a piece
less for Black.
25.ab6 Tc8
The desirable 25...Sb6 doesn´t work because of
26.Tab1 Ld8 27.dc5 winning.

FIDE SURVEYS – Miguel Illescas

3

XIIIIIIIIY
9nmkr+-+-tr0
9+p+-vl-zpp0
9-zP-+q+-+0
9+-zppzPpzP-0
9-+-zP-+-zP0
9+-zP-+Q+-0
9-tR-+-+-+0
9tR-vL-mKL+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Black´s position is very difficult and with this move
the Damiano style finish is allowed.
26.Ta8! Ka8 27.Dd1!
White´s queen is like a shark smelling blood.
27...Dc6 28.Lf4!
While the black king is trapped in the mouse hole,
his hard-working queen can´t cope with all the
work: by covering the check on 'a4' she has stopped
blocking the advance e5–e6, and White takes
advantage of this immediately.
28...Tce8 29.Da1 Kb8 30.e6
and Black resigned because of the forced sequence:
30...Ld6 31.Da7 Kc8 32.Da8 Lb8 33.Db8 mate.

But one must be cautious and calculate with
precision before sacrificing the rook. Pay attention
to the drama that occurred in the following game.

Rumiancev G. : Prokuronov E.
Russia 1996

XIIIIIIIIY
9k+-+-tr-tr0
9zpp+nvl-zp-0
9-+q+p+-+0
9zP-zP-zPl+p0
9N+-zp-+-+0
9+-+P+N+P0
9R+PvL-+P+0
9+-+-wQR+K0
xiiiiiiiiy

Black seems to be having some trouble but by
choosing an active line he tries to get back into the
game.
28...Lh3!
A brave decision which leads to interesting
complications. The bishop is untouchable because
of the attacked enemy knight on 'f3'.
If instead Black had opted for a solid move such as
28...Kb8 he would have found himself in quite an
uncomfortable position, for example: 29.Lg5
(29.a6!? might have been an attacking option for
White) 29...Lg5 30.Sg5 Sc5 31.Sc5 Dc5 32.Tb2 and
White´s game is clearly preferable .
29.Sb6!
White reacts energetically and sacrifices a piece in
order to attack the queenside with his major pieces.
The black queen can´t allow the exchange on 'd7',
which would take away the pressure on 'f3', so the
white knight must be eliminated. The question is
whether to capture with the knight or with the pawn.
29...ab6?
Black becomes too ambitious and decides to go for
the material advantage. Blocking the queenside with
29...Sb6 30.ab6 a6 was more sensible.
30.ab6 Kb8

XIIIIIIIIY
9-mk-+-tr-tr0
9+p+nvl-zp-0
9-zPq+p+-+0
9+-zP-zP-+p0
9-+-zp-+-+0
9+-+P+N+l0
9R+PvL-+P+0
9+-+-wQR+K0
xiiiiiiiiy

31.Ta8??
Everyone has gone through the same sensation as
this player at some moment.
31...Ka8
And now you realize that you have to resign, as
after 32.Da1 Kb8 33.Da7 Kc8 34.Da8 Black plays
34...Sb8! and White ends up with a huge material
disadvantage.
However, the sacrifice on 'b6' was correct, as after
31.Da1! Kc8 32.Ta8 Sb8 33.Kh2! White achieves a
clear advantage capturing the bishop, as if it retreats

FIDE SURVEYS – Miguel Illescas

4

with 33...Lg4? White mates by means of 34.Tb8
Kb8 35.Da7 Kc8 36.Sd4 Dd5 37.c6! winning.
The following example features the Bayonet Attack
as the necessary prelude for the Damiano mate.

Nyback T. : Ladva O.
Estonia 2010

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+-+0
9zppwq-vl-zpk0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-sn-+-+-0
9-+Lzp-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzPQvL-trPzP0
9+K+R+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

22.h4! Dc6?
A big mistake. The correct plan was to close the
diagonal c2–g6. After 22...Td8 23.h5 d3! 24.hg6
Kg6 Black survives.
23.h5 d3
An improvised solution that won´t solve the black
king´s problems. Black was probably considering
the exchange of queens with 23...De4 but after
24.hg6 Kg6 25.De4 Se4 26.Ld3 the knight is
condemned.
24.Ld3 Sd3 25.Dd3 Td8
Also insufficient is 25...Kg8 26.hg6 Lf6 27.Db3 and
the attack develops on the diagonal.
26.hg6 Kg8

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+k+0
9zpp+-vl-zp-0
9-+q+-+P+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+Q+-+-0
9PzP-vL-trP+0
9+K+R+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

And we have the pawn on g6. The rest is easy, we
just have to make sure that the black king can´t
escape to the queenside.
27.Th8! Kh8 28.Dh3 Lh4
A hopeless sacrifice to find an escape square.
29.Dh4 Kg8 30.Dh7!
Not falling for the vulgar 30.Df2
30...Kf8 31.Lb4
And Black was forced to resign. A very instructive
example.
And in the last example, we shall learn the main
defensive procedures against this mate.

Aseev K. : Turtiainen T.

Helsinki 2002

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+ktr-+-tr0
9+lwq-+-+-0
9p+-+n+p+0
9+p+-+P+-0
9-+-+L+p+0
9zP-sN-+-+-0
9-zPPvL-+P+0
9tR-+-wQRmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

23...g3?
Black is captivated by the possibility of giving the
Damiano mate (now he is threatening 24... Th1!),
but as we shall see White has enough defense.
The correct plan would have been to extract the
enemy king from the security of his castled position
with 23...Dh2 24.Kf2 g3! This way the white king in
the center will be harassed of the enemy pieces,
specially the black queen. In this variation, after
25.Ke3 the following position appears on the board.

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+ktr-+-tr0
9+l+-+-+-0
9p+-+n+p+0
9+p+-+P+-0
9-+-+L+-+0
9zP-sN-mK-zp-0
9-zPPvL-+Pwq0
9tR-+-wQR+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

FIDE SURVEYS – Miguel Illescas

5

And now Black can initiate an instructive ladder
manoeuvre, quite unusual with so many pieces in
play. 25...Dh6! 26.Ke2 Dh5 27.Ke3 Forced. (The
thing is that after 27.Lf3 Sd4 28.Kd1 Lf3 29.gf3 g2
Black wins easily.) 27...Dg5 28.Ke2 Dg4 29.Ke3
Le4 30.Se4 gf5 and the attack is decisive.
Let´s go back to the game. Play continued with
24.Lb7 Kb8

XIIIIIIIIY
9-mk-tr-+-tr0
9+Lwq-+-+-0
9p+-+n+p+0
9+p+-+P+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9zP-sN-+-zp-0
9-zPPvL-+P+0
9tR-+-wQRmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Consecuent with his strategy. If 24...Kb7 25.De4
Kb8 26.Lf4 White obtains a huge advantage easily.
25.Tf3!
This move offers White an escape route via f1–e2.
25...Sd4
Insisting on the same idea, the control of e2.
26.Le3!
And after this movement the bishop can cover on g1
an eventual check from the black queen. Black´s
attack has failed and the next moves just certify this
verdict.
26...Th1 27.Kh1 Dh7 28.Kg1 Dh2 29.Kf1 Kb7
As we indicated earlier on after 29...Dh1 30.Lg1
there is no mate and Black ends up with a
scandalous material disadvantage.
30.Ld4 Td4 31.De7 Kc8 32.Se2 1:0.

Of course, we could show you many more examples
that deal with this mating pattern, but instead, here
are a few exercices for you to solve. Try out your
knowledge and tactical skills, both in defense and
on the attack.

EXERCISES

Barua D. : Kumaran B.
Mumbai 2009

XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+-+-mk0
9wq-+-+-zp-0
9-zp-zp-+Pzp0
9+-zpNsn-+-0
9-zP-+P+-+0
9+-+P+-+-0
9-+PwQ-+-tR0
9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

To access the black king on h-file White is forced to
sacrifice his rook. Is the sacrifice correct?





Eljanov P. : Wang Yue
Moscow Aeroflot 2005

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+qtrk+0
9+p+-+pzp-0
9-+-+p+P+0
9zp-+pzPn+-0
9-+-zP-+Q+0
9+-+-zP-+R0
9PzP-vL-+P+0
9+-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Even at the highest level we can find situations in
which the Damiano mate can appear on the board.
Can you identify the diagram position as one of
them?

FIDE SURVEYS – Miguel Illescas

6

Miezis N. : Hanley C.

Gausdal 2001

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9+p+-+-zp-0
9n+pzp-+P+0
9zp-vl-zp-vL-0
9-+P+N+-+0
9+-+P+N+-0
9PzP-+QzPq+0
9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

Pawn on g6, open file, ripe for the picking. Any
ideas?


Horvath P. : Gacso T.
Hungary 1996

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9zp-+-+-zp-0
9-+q+p+P+0
9+pzp-+-+R0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+-zP-zP-+-0
9PzP-+Q+l+0
9+-mKR+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White has just played 24.g6, threatening the rook
sacrifice on 'h8' that would lead us to the Damiano
mate. Black has to play and find the best defense.

Andres M. : Lauridsen J.
Buenos Aires 1998

XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+-+k+0
9zp-+-+p+-0
9r+-sNl+pzp0
9+-wq-zP-+-0
9-+PtR-wQ-+0
9zPp+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-+PzP0
9+K+R+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

First we will see how the game continued:

30...Ta3 31.Se4 Lf5 32.Df5

arriving at the following position in which Black´s
best move must be found.

XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+-+k+0
9zp-+-+p+-0
9-+-+-+pzp0
9+-wq-zPQ+-0
9-+PtRN+-+0
9trp+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-+PzP0
9+K+R+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Once the position has been solved, try to answer the
following questions: was the rook sacrifice on move
30 correct? Did White make the correct decision
rejecting it?

FIDE SURVEYS – Miguel Illescas

7

SOLUTIONS

Barua D. : Kumaran B.
Mumbai 2009

36.Th6! Kg8
The only move, but now we arrive at an attacking
pattern which we are familiar with. The key is that
after 36...gh6 37.Dh6 Kg8 38.Sf6# is mate.
37.Th8! Kh8 38.Dh2 Kg8 39.Dh7 Kf8 40.Dh8
mate.
Please pay attention to the fact that if there was no
knight on 'd5' Black´s king could escape through
'e7', although in this case it wouldn´t be enough to
save the game as after capturing on 'g7' White
would capture the enemy queen.

Eljanov P. : Wang Yue
Moscow Aeroflot 2005

28.Tf5!
Sometimes a preparation move is required,
eliminating a potential defender. A big mistake
would be 28.Th8? as after 28...Kh8 29.Dh5? Sh6 the
black knight ruins White´s hopes.
28...ef5 29.Th8!
Now! Mate in two, therefore Black resigned.

Miezis N. : Hanley C.

Gausdal 2001

18.Se5!
The most simple move. Also winning is 18.Th2!
Df3 19.Tdh1!
18...Tf2 19.Th8
This way the white queen receives an invitation to
join the party. Black opted to resign as after
19...Kh8 20.Dh5 Kg8 21.Dh7 Kf8 22.Dh8# he is
mated.

Horvath P. : Gacso T.
Hungary 1996

24...Df3?
As we shall see the correct move was 24...Tf5!
25.Th7 Df3! 26.Df3 Lf3 27.Td7 Tf6! 28.Tdg7 Kf8
and Black consolidates his piece advantage.
However, 24...Tf6? doesn´t work because of
25.Th8! Kh8 26.Dh5 Kg8 27.Dh7 Kf8 28.Dh8 Ke7
29.Dg7 Ke8 30.Df6 Ld5 31.Df7 Kd8 32.g7 and
White wins.
25.Tdh1!! Lh1 26.Th8!

And the white queen culminates the mating
maneuver, in this occasion via 'h2'.

Andres M. : Lauridsen J.
Buenos Aires 1998

30...Ta3!?
An ingenious resource in an inferior position. In any
case White should be winning with correct play.
31.Se4!
Much better than 31.ba3? Da3 32.T4d2 b2 and
Black achieves a strong attack.
Now, however, in case of 31...Da5 White can
capture the rook: 32.ba3 Da3 33.T1d2 b2 34.Td8
Kh7 35.Tb8 Da1 36.Kc2 Dc1 37.Kd3 b1D 38.Tb1
Db1 39.Ke3 and the white king escapes with a
decisive material advantage.
31...Lf5 32.Df5??
A big mistake. The winning move was 32.e6!, for
example: 32...Ta1 33.Ka1 Da5 34.Kb1 Da2 35.Kc1
Da1 36.Kd2 Db2 37.Ke3
32...Ta1! 33.Ka1 Da5
The black queen has escaped with tempi. The game
continued
34.Kb1 Da2 35.Kc1 Da1 36.Kd2 Db2 37.Ke3 gf5
and Black won a few moves later.