--- title: "Boden's mate in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bodens-mate.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bodens-mate" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "Boden's mate is a checkmate in which two bishops attack along diagonals that cross, one giving check and the other cutting off flight squares." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/checkmate.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/epaulette-mate.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-pair.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mating-net.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/tactics.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Boden's mate in chess > **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md. Boden's mate is a checkmate in which two bishops attack along diagonals that cross, one giving check and the other cutting off flight squares. Boden's mate is a checkmate in which two bishops attack along diagonals that cross, one giving check and the other cutting off flight squares, while the king's own pieces block the rest. [Two bishops](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-pair.md) attack from different directions and cross each other's lines. One bishop gives check, the other covers the [squares](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/square.md) next to the king. The king's own pieces take the remaining squares, which is why the pattern appears when the king has castled long or stands on c8 or c1 with pieces around it. With the black king on c8, a white bishop on a6 gives check along the [diagonal](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/diagonal.md) through b7. A second white bishop on f4 covers c7 and b8. The black rook on d8 and [knight](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md) on d7 fill the squares on the other side, so the king has no move, and neither of those pieces can [capture](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/capture.md) the checking bishop. To spot it, look for a king whose escape squares are all either covered by your bishops or occupied by its own pieces, with both bishops on open diagonals that cross. Typical squares are a6 and f4 against a king on c8, or the matching squares against a king on c1. To defend, do not leave the king on c8 with pieces crowded around it, and leave it a square to run to. In the diagram White to move plays Ba6#. The bishop from f1 checks the king on c8 along a6, b7. The bishop on f4 covers c7 and b8, and the rook on d8 and knight on d7 block the other squares. ## Example position White to move plays Ba6#. The bishop checks along a6 to c8 while the bishop on f4 covers b8 and c7, and the black rook on d8 and knight on d7 block the king's other squares. Position (FEN): `2kr4/3n4/8/8/5B2/8/8/5BK1 w - - 0 1` It sits close to [Epaulette mate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/epaulette-mate.md). An epaulette mate is a checkmate in which a queen checks a king whose two side squares are occupied by its own pieces, usually rooks, so it cannot step sideways. Also worth reading is [Swallow's tail mate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/swallows-tail-mate.md). A swallow's tail mate is a checkmate in which a queen stands directly in front of the king, protected by another piece, while the king's own pieces occupy both squares beside it. Compare it with [Double check](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/double-check.md). A double check is a single move that puts the enemy king under attack from two pieces simultaneously, typically one that moved and one it unmasked, so only a king move can answer it. Knowing "Boden's mate" helps most once you can spot it in a real game. A [first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md) with George Li starts from your own games and finds the tactics you keep missing. ## Related terms - [Checkmate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/checkmate.md) - [Epaulette mate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/epaulette-mate.md) - [Bishop pair](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-pair.md) - [Mating net](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mating-net.md) ## Guides that go further - [How to choose a chess coach](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach.md): What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid. - [How much does chess coaching cost?](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coaching-cost.md): Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each. - [The first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md): A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li. [Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com. ## Related - [Checkmate in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/checkmate.md) - [Epaulette mate in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/epaulette-mate.md) - [Bishop pair in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-pair.md) - [Mating net in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mating-net.md) - [Chess terms: Tactics and combinations](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/tactics.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)