🎓 A1Learner
🔍
0 of 53 lessons completed

Epaulette Mate

Epaulette mate is a queen mate where the king's own pieces sit on both sides of the king, like epaulettes, and the queen gives check in front. The queen gives check, and the king's own bishops sit on both sides of the king like epaulettes.

The finished shape

This is the finished shape. Epaulette mate is a queen mate where the king's own pieces sit on both sides of the king, like epaulettes, and the queen gives check in front.

FEN: kb6/BQ6/2K5/8/8/8/8/8 b - - 1 1

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

The worked example

White plays the mating move here. The queen gives check, and the king's own bishops sit on both sides of the king like epaulettes.

FEN: kb6/B3Q3/2K5/8/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1

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

How to prevent it

Black plays Bc7 first. That move blocks the mating piece, so the mate no longer works.

FEN: kb6/B3Q3/2K5/8/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1

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

Key points

  • The queen gives check, and the king's own bishops sit on both sides of the king like epaulettes.
  • The worked example ends with Qb7.
  • To prevent it, do not let your own pieces sit on both sides of the king with no escape square.
  • Black plays Bc7 first. That move blocks the mating piece, 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.