Academy | Tactics | Checkmates | David and Goliath Mate
The David and Goliath Mate is a checkmate pattern characterized by the fact that a humble pawn checkmates the opponent’s king.
David and Goliath Mate Example 1
Diagram above: 1.h4# proves it is quite possible for a pawn to deliver checkmate, with the help of other pieces and/or pawns though.
David and Goliath Mate Example 2
Averill Powers employed this checkmate pattern against an opponent in a simultaneous event, Milwaukee, 1937:
Diagram above: 1.Qf7# is a surprising move. It’s almost comical to notice that white is willing to sacrifice the queen in order to get the pawn to finish the checkmate. 1… Qxf7 is forced.
Diagram above: 2.exf7# proves that a pawn should never be underestimated! This checkmate would not be possible without the help of white’s knight (and even the black pieces that obstruct their own king).
There are many different ways to reach this checkmate pattern–the only “requirement” is that the actual checkmate is delivered by a pawn.