One of the earliest checkmates a player learns is the "back rank mate" which takes advantage of the enemy King being sheltered by a row of unmoved pawns, preventing escape from a fatal check.
In the following game, Bill Wall does not get to deliver that check, but his various threats to do so determine the game.
Wall, Bill - Dasasary
sparkchess, 2025
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4
6.Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.O-O Nf6
Seen as early as Jerome - Shinkman, Iowa, 1876 (1/2-1/2, 41 ).
Black has a piece for a pawn. White has a plan.
9.f4 Nc6 10.Qd1
New for Bill. Five times previously, he had chosen 10.Qd3.
10...Re8
Good. Black avoids 10...Nxe4 11.Qd5+ Ke8 12.Qxe4+ when he would only have an edge.
11.Nc3 Kg8
12.f5
Setting a trap.
12...Nxe4
Having rightly resisted the e-pawn at move 10, he suddenly finds the poisoned pawn appealing.
13.Nxe4 Rxe4 14.Qd5+
A sad necessity.
15.fxe6 Qe7 16.Bg5
Better was 16...Bxe6 17.Qxc6 Qxg5 18.Qxc7 Bd5 19.Rf2 Re8 but it would still leave the second player behind.
17.Rae1
Offering his Queen.
17...Ne5
Or 17...Nd4 18.Qxd4 checkmate in 12.
18.Rxe5 Black resigned
The White Rook cannot be taken by the Queen, because she is pinned. The pawn cannot take the Rook, as this would allow 19.Qd8+ checkmate
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