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Attacking the King · Yatish Chandra Shukla

Bishop Mates

Attacking from the other side of the board

In this lesson you will learn

  • How a bishop gives mate along a long diagonal
  • Boden's mate with two bishops
  • Morphy's mate with bishop and rook
  • Double checks and pawn mates

Every board on this page is live. Move the pieces by tapping or dragging, click any move in the lines to see that position, and press ↺ to start again.

5.1 The Long Diagonal

A bishop can give check from far away, and that makes it easy to overlook. Many mates happen on the long diagonals a1–h8 and h1–a8, where a bishop strikes at a castled king from the other side of the board. The bishop rarely mates alone: usually a second piece, or the king's own pawns, close the remaining squares.

When two bishops work together on crossing diagonals, they can cover a whole group of squares around the king. This is the idea behind Boden's mate, named after the English player Samuel Boden, who won with it in the 19th century.

NoteWatch for the double check: when a piece moves and uncovers a check from a bishop or rook behind it while giving check itself, the king must move. If it has no square, it is mate — even if both checking pieces could be captured.
Pattern 1 · Boden's mateBoden's mate. Two bishops on crossing diagonals mate a king that has castled queenside. Its own rook and pawn block the escape.
Pattern 2 · Two bishopsTwo bishops. One bishop checks along the long diagonal, the other covers g8.
Pattern 3 · Morphy's mateMorphy's mate. The bishop checks along the long diagonal and the rook on the g-file closes g8 and g7.

5.2 Opening the Diagonal

Bishop mates often begin with a sacrifice that opens a diagonal. A pawn or piece that stands in the way is removed, and suddenly the bishop has a clear line to the king. Before you give up hope in a position, look at your bishops: which diagonal would they control if one pawn disappeared?

LessonLong-range pieces are easy to forget. In every attacking position, trace the diagonals of both your bishops all the way to the edge of the board.

5.3 Worked Examples

Cover the text under each diagram, find the mate, then read on.

Diagram 5.1Black to move

Example 5.1

Black to move. Find the mate in one.

Find the key move.

Diagram 5.2Black to move

Example 5.2

Black to move. Find the mate in one.

Find the key move.

Diagram 5.3White to move

Example 5.3

White to move. Find the mate in one.

Find the key move.

Diagram 5.4White to move

Example 5.4

White to move. Find the mate in 2.

Find the key move.

Diagram 5.5White to move

Example 5.5

White to move. Find the mate in 2.

Find the key move.

Remember

  1. Bishops mate from a distance, usually along the long diagonals.
  2. Boden's mate: two bishops on crossing diagonals.
  3. Morphy's mate: bishop on the long diagonal plus a rook on the next file.
  4. A double check forces the king to move — with no square, it is mate.

Exercises · Lesson 5

Bishops, double checks and even pawns give the final blow in these puzzles.

Solve these 25 exercises on the boardCreate a free account to check your moves, open hints and solutions, and save your progress.
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Exercise 5.1★ · Mate in 1
Black to move

Mate in one.

Exercise 5.2★ · Mate in 1
White to move

Mate in one.

Exercise 5.3★ · Mate in 1
Black to move

Mate in one.

Exercise 5.4★★ · Mate in 1
Black to move

Mate in one.

Exercise 5.5★★ · Mate in 1
White to move

Mate in one.

Exercise 5.6★★ · Mate in 1
Black to move

Mate in one.

Exercise 5.7★★ · Mate in 1
White to move

Mate in one.

Exercise 5.8★★ · Mate in 1
White to move

Mate in one.

Exercise 5.9★★ · Mate in 1
Black to move

Mate in one.

Exercise 5.10★★ · Mate in 1
Black to move

Mate in one.

Exercise 5.11★★ · Mate in 1
White to move

Mate in one.

Exercise 5.12★★ · Mate in 1
White to move

Mate in one.

Exercise 5.13★★ · Mate in 1
Black to move

Mate in one.

Exercise 5.14★★ · Mate in 1
Black to move

Mate in one.

Exercise 5.15★★ · Mate in 1
White to move

Mate in one.

Exercise 5.16★★ · Mate in 2
Black to move

Mate in 2.

Exercise 5.17★★★ · Mate in 2
White to move

Mate in 2.

Exercise 5.18★★★ · Mate in 2
White to move

Mate in 2.

Exercise 5.19★★★ · Mate in 2
Black to move

Mate in 2.

Exercise 5.20★★★ · Mate in 2
White to move

Mate in 2.

Exercise 5.21★★★ · Mate in 2
White to move

Mate in 2.

Exercise 5.22★★★ · Mate in 2
White to move

Mate in 2.

Exercise 5.23★★★ · Mate in 3
White to move

Mate in 3.

Exercise 5.24★★★ · Mate in 3
Black to move

Mate in 3.

Exercise 5.25★★★ · Mate in 3
White to move

Mate in 3.