Laiemate

Laiemate is a term that appears in informal online discussions and niche puzzle circles but is not established in standard chess literature. Because there is no widely accepted definition, laiemate can refer to different, often overlapping concepts depending on the author, including a supposed mating motif that unfolds over an extended sequence or a colloquial label for a late or unusual mate. The lack of consensus means it should be treated as informal jargon rather than a technically defined pattern.

Possible origins of the term are unclear. It may be a typographical variant of “late mate,” a proposed label for mates that occur late in a game or puzzle sequence, or it could be a homage or misattribution to a puzzle composer with the surname Lai. Some discussions also use laiemate as a shorthand for a hypothetical or named pattern sometimes referred to as “Lai’s mate,” though this usage is not standardized and appears only in limited contexts.

In practice, readers encountering laiemate should look for contextual clues to determine what the author intends. If the term is used without clarification, it may indicate a long mating net, an unusual sequence leading to mate, or simply be a misspelling or casual shorthand. Because laiemate lacks formal definition, it is advisable to consult the surrounding discussion or the source material for the intended meaning.

See also: chess terminology, mating patterns, long mate, Légal’s mate, smothered mate. References: sources where the term is used, noting that it is not part of standard reference works.