Editing Helpmate (section)

{{Short description|Type of chess problem}}{{for multi|the hospital robot|Mobile robot|a spouse|Helpmeet}}
{{Chess diagram
<!-- FEN 8/8/N7/8/8/6q1/3K2k1/3b4 -->
|tright
|Zdravko Maslar, 1981<ref name="h754">{{cite web | last=Wilts | first=Gerd | last2=Schwalbe | first2=Die | title=Chess Problem Database Server | website=Chess Problem Database Server | date=1997-06-27 | url=https://pdb.dieschwalbe.de/search.jsp?expression=PROBID='P0510174' | access-date=2025-02-09}}</ref>
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|nl|  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |qd|  
|  |  |  |kl|  |  |kd|  
|  |  |  |bd|  |  |  |  
|Helpmate in 8
}}

A '''helpmate''' is a type of [[chess problem]] in which both sides cooperate in order to achieve the goal of [[checkmate|checkmating]] Black.  In a helpmate in ''n'' moves, Black moves first, then White, each side moving ''n'' times, to culminate in White's ''nth'' move checkmating Black. (In a helpmate in 2 for example, sometimes abbreviated ''h#2'', the solution consists of a Black move, a White move, a second Black move, then a second White move, giving checkmate.) Although the two sides cooperate, all moves must be legal according to the [[rules of chess]].

The example problem illustrated is a helpmate in 8 (or ''h#8'') by Zdravko Maslar, published in ''[[Die Schwalbe]]'' in 1981. The solution is (''recall that in helpmate solutions, Black's move is given first''):
 
:'''1. Kf3 Kd3 2. Bb3 Kc3 3. Ke4+ Kd2 4. Kd4 Ke2 5. Kc3 Nb4 6. Kb2 Kd2 7. Ka1 Kc1 8. Ba2 Nc2{{chessAN|#}}'''
{{AN chess|pos=toc}}