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Damiano's Bishop Mate

Damiano's bishop mate is a bishop mate in the corner, where the bishop gives check and the queen takes the king's last escape square. The bishop gives check, and the queen takes the king's last escape square.

The finished shape

This is the finished shape. Damiano's bishop mate is a bishop mate in the corner, where the bishop gives check and the queen takes the king's last escape square.

FEN: 7k/7p/5B2/8/8/8/Q7/4K3 b - - 1 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . . . . k 8
7 . . . . . . . p 7
6 . . . . . B . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 Q . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . K . . . 1
  a b c d e f g h

The worked example

White plays the mating move here. The bishop gives check, and the queen takes the king's last escape square.

FEN: 7k/4B2p/8/8/8/8/Q7/4K3 w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . . . . k 8
7 . . . . B . . p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 Q . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . K . . . 1
  a b c d e f g h

How to prevent it

Black plays h6 first. The pawn move opens an escape square, so the mate no longer works.

FEN: 7k/4B2p/8/8/8/8/Q7/4K3 b - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . . . . k 8
7 . . . . B . . p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 Q . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . K . . . 1
  a b c d e f g h

Key points

  • The bishop gives check, and the queen takes the king's last escape square.
  • The worked example ends with Bf6.
  • To prevent it, keep an escape square open and do not let the bishop and queen close the corner together.
  • Black plays h6 first. The pawn move opens an escape square, so the mate no longer works.
  • Check every escape square before you play the mating move, because one open square breaks the mate.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated · Rust Playground

Exercise

Find the checkmate in this position.