--- title: "Swallow's tail mate in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/swallows-tail-mate.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/swallows-tail-mate" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "A swallow's tail mate is a checkmate in which a queen stands directly in front of the king, protected by another piece." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/back-rank-mate.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mating-attack.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mating-net.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/queen-sacrifice.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/smothered-mate.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/tactics.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Swallow's tail 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. A swallow's tail mate is a checkmate in which a queen stands directly in front of the king, protected by another piece. 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. The queen sits right in front of the king, and its reach spreads out like the forked tail of a bird: it covers the two [squares](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/square.md) diagonally in front of the king, while the king's own pieces sit on the squares on either side. With the queen protected, for example by a pawn, the king can neither [capture](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/capture.md) it nor step away. The pattern arises against a king left in the center with pieces crowded on both sides of it, such as rooks on d8 and f8 beside a king on e8. A queen landing on e7 with a pawn on d6 behind it shows the idea clearly, though a rook or [bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md) can supply the support just as well. The queen can arrive from a distance, often along a [diagonal](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/diagonal.md), so check which of your pieces can reach the square in front of the king with support. If you defend, avoid crowding pieces on both sides of your own king; that cramped setup removes your flight squares. Capturing the guard of the invading queen, or controlling the key square with a minor piece, also takes the sting out of the idea. Sending the queen in without a guard throws the chance away: if the king can simply capture it, the attack ends and you have lost your most valuable piece. Also called: dovetail mate. ## Example position White to move plays Qe7, checkmate. The pawn on d6 guards the queen, the queen covers d7 and f7, and Black's rooks on d8 and f8 block the squares beside the king. Position (FEN): `3rkr2/p7/3P4/8/7Q/8/8/6K1 w - - 0 1` A neighboring idea is [Damiano's mate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/damianos-mate.md). Damiano's mate is a checkmate in which a queen gives check on h7 next to a king on g8, guarded by a pawn on g6, while the king's own pieces block its remaining flight squares. A neighboring idea is [Ladder mate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/ladder-mate.md). A ladder mate is a checkmate on the edge of the board in which two rooks, or a rook and a queen, take turns giving check on neighboring lines until the king runs out of room. Also worth reading is [Pillsbury's mate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pillsburys-mate.md). Pillsbury's mate is a checkmate in which a rook checks along the g-file while a bishop on the long diagonal covers g7 and h8, leaving a king on g8 hemmed in by its own pieces. Knowing "Swallow's tail 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 - [Back rank mate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/back-rank-mate.md) - [Mating attack](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mating-attack.md) - [Mating net](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mating-net.md) - [Queen sacrifice](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/queen-sacrifice.md) - [Smothered mate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/smothered-mate.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 - [Back rank mate in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/back-rank-mate.md) - [Mating attack in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mating-attack.md) - [Mating net in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mating-net.md) - [Queen sacrifice in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/queen-sacrifice.md) - [Smothered mate in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/smothered-mate.md) - [Chess terms: Tactics and combinations](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/tactics.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)