Two rooks mate (lawnmower mate)
Mow across the board rank by rank - the easiest basic checkmate.
Two rooks versus a lone king is the simplest basic checkmate. The technique is sometimes called the 'lawnmower' because the rooks take turns cutting the king's space rank by rank.
The idea: one rook gives check from one end of the board, pushing the king to another rank. Then the second rook gives check from there. Alternate, and within a few moves the enemy king is on the back rank and mated.
You do not even need your king's help. Just alternate rooks, pushing the enemy king one rank at a time. The only thing to watch out for is accidentally allowing the king to capture an undefended rook.
Examples
Rook cuts across - the lawnmower begins
White plays Rc4+, pushing the Black king off the fourth rank. The king is forced to the third rank (or back rank). Now the other rook gives check from that rank: Rb3+. The king retreats again, and so on until it is mated on the back rank. Keep the rooks defended by each other.
Checkmate - king trapped on the back rank
White plays Ra6 - checkmate. The Black king on a8 is attacked by the rook on a6 and cannot move: b8 is covered by the rook on b5, and a7 is on the a-file covered by Ra6. The lawnmower technique delivers mate in a handful of moves from any starting position.
Key terms
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