Intermediate checkmate · 11 of 12
Boden's mate
Two bishops mate on diagonals that cross, with the king hemmed in by its own pieces.
- Learn how it worksThree examples with Capra. You play each one yourself.Three examples with CapraStart the lesson
- Practise on real puzzlesPractise on puzzles80 boden's mate puzzles, from easy to very hard.0 of 80 solvedGo to the puzzlesGo to the puzzles
Two bishops on crossing diagonals
One bishop gives the check. The other cuts across it and takes the squares the first cannot reach.
The bishop mates
The bishop checks from a6. The bishop on f4 covers b8 and c7.
A queen sacrifice on c6
The queen takes on c6 with check. The pawn on b7 has to take her, and the diagonal to the king opens.
A king in the centre
The queen takes on g6 with check. The pawn on h7 has to take her, and the bishop mates on g6.
Boden's mates in numbers
Counted from the 250 Boden's mates in our puzzle library, all taken from real games- 1 in 1200
of our puzzles ends with Boden's mate.
- 92%
of them are mate in 1.
- 76%
of them come in the middlegame.
Which piece makes the first move
- Bishop97%
- Queen2%
- Rook1%
How many moves the mate takes
- Mate in 192%
- Mate in 28%
- Mate in 30%
Good to know
Boden's mates: common questions
What is Boden's mate in chess?
Boden's mate is a checkmate by two bishops on diagonals that cross. The king's own pieces block its other squares. It most often hits a king that has castled on the queenside.
Why is it called Boden's mate?
It is named after Samuel Boden, an English player who gave this mate in a game against Schulder in London in 1853.
Why is there so often a queen sacrifice?
A pawn on b7 or b2 usually keeps the second bishop out. Taking on c6 or c3 with the queen forces that pawn to capture, and the diagonal opens.
How do I spot Boden's mate?
Look for a king on c8 or c1 with its own rook and another piece beside it, one of your bishops aimed at the squares next to the king, and the other bishop able to reach a6 or a3.