Pillsbury's Mate

The bishop and rook combine forces in Pillsbury's mate. The rook operates on the open file, while the bishop removes the remaining flight square.

  See Diagram: Pillsbury's Mate Theme

                   Pillsbury's Mate In Action:

White: Pillsbury                         Black: Lee

London ,1989

H.N.Pillsbury

1.d4 d5    2.c4 e6    3.Nc3 Nf6    4.Bg5 Be7    5.e3 Nbd7    6.Nf3     b6    7.cxd5 exd5    8.Bb5 Bb7    9.Ne5 0-0    10.Bc6 Rb8.

[Black would have had another mishap on the same theme of 'Pillsbury's Mate' if he had continued 10...Bxc6 11.Nxc6 Qe8 12.Nxe7+ Qxe7 13.Nxd5 Qe4 14.Nxf6+ gxf6 15.Bh6 Qxg2 16.Qf3 with a winning position for white.]

11.Bxb7 Rxb7    12.Nc6 Qe8    13.Nxe7+ Qxe7    14.Nxd5 Qe4    15.Nxf6+ gxf6    16.Bh6  Qxg2??  (See Diagram)

         Position after Black's 16th Move

   White to play and win

[It is unlikely that a modern player would dare to capture the pawn on g2, consequently opening up the dangerous g-file, even if the combination itself was not anticipated.]

17.Qf3!

[White gives up the queen to get the g-file.]

 17...Qxf3    18.Rg1+ Kh8    19.Bg7+ Kg8    20.Bxf6+ Qg4    21.Rxg4# (See Diagram)

  The Final Position. ''Pillsbury's Mate''  Executed.

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