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Pillsbury's Mate

Pillsbury's mate uses two bishops on crossing diagonals, and the bishops mate a king that cannot step out of the corner. One bishop gives check, and the other bishop takes the king's last escape square.

The finished shape

This is the finished shape. Pillsbury's mate uses two bishops on crossing diagonals, and the bishops mate a king that cannot step out of the corner.

FEN: 7k/p5B1/6K1/3B4/8/8/8/8 b - - 1 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . . . . k 8
7 p . . . . . B . 7
6 . . . . . . K . 6
5 . . . B . . . . 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. One bishop gives check, and the other bishop takes the king's last escape square.

FEN: 7k/p7/6KB/3B4/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1

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

How to prevent it

Black plays a6 first. The pawn move opens an escape square, so the mate no longer works.

FEN: 7k/p7/6KB/3B4/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1

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

Key points

  • One bishop gives check, and the other bishop takes the king's last escape square.
  • The worked example ends with Bg7.
  • To prevent it, keep the king off the corner and keep an escape square open.
  • Black plays a6 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.