--- title: "Two bishops checkmate in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/two-bishops-checkmate.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/two-bishops-checkmate" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "Two bishops checkmate is the ending in which a king and two bishops, one on light squares and one on dark squares, force mate against a lone king." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-and-knight-checkmate.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/two-knights-endgame.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opposite-colored-bishops.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-and-queen-checkmate.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/stalemate.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/endgames.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Two bishops checkmate 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. Two bishops checkmate is the ending in which a king and two bishops, one on light squares and one on dark squares, force mate against a lone king. Two bishops checkmate is the ending in which a king and two bishops, one on light squares and one on dark squares, force mate against a lone king, usually in a corner, with the king helping. One [bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md) can never mate a lone king, because it only ever controls squares of one color. A light-squared and a dark-squared bishop together cover both colors, and with the king's help they win by force. The process is longer than the queen or [rook mates](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-and-rook-checkmate.md), so it pays to follow a clear routine. Place the [two bishops](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-pair.md) next to each other so their [diagonals](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/diagonal.md) run side by side. Together they form a barrier the enemy king cannot cross. Shift that barrier one step at a time toward an edge, and use your own king to occupy the squares the bishops leave open. Once the king is on the edge, keep shrinking its space until it is forced into a corner, where a bishop check with every flight square covered ends the game. Two dangers stand out near the end. The first is [stalemate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/stalemate.md): a cornered king easily runs out of moves while not in check, so make sure it still has a legal move until you give the final check. The second is a loose bishop. The defending king will attack any bishop that is not protected, and losing one leaves a draw. A common error is letting the bishops drift apart, which opens a gap in the barrier. Another is leaving your own king behind, since the bishops cannot finish the job alone. Practice from a central [starting position](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/starting-position.md) until you can mate without hesitation. ## Example position White to move mates in one with Bd4: the bishop on d4 checks along the long diagonal, the bishop on c4 covers g8 and the king covers g7 and h7. Position (FEN): `7k/8/6K1/8/2B5/4B3/8/8 w - - 0 1` It sits close to [Bishop and knight checkmate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-and-knight-checkmate.md). Bishop and knight checkmate is the ending in which a king, a bishop and a knight force mate against a lone king, which must be driven into a corner of the bishop's color. A neighboring idea is [King and queen checkmate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-and-queen-checkmate.md). King and queen checkmate is the basic ending in which a king and queen force mate against a lone king, using the queen to confine it and the king to help deliver the final check. Also worth reading is [Two knights endgame](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/two-knights-endgame.md). The two knights endgame is the ending with a king and two knights against a bare king, in which checkmate cannot be forced although it can sometimes arise by mistake. Endgame ideas like "Two bishops checkmate" are won or lost on small details, which a coach can check in your own games. The [first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md) with George Li is where that review starts. ## Related terms - [Bishop and knight checkmate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-and-knight-checkmate.md) - [Two knights endgame](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/two-knights-endgame.md) - [Opposite-colored bishops](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opposite-colored-bishops.md) - [King and queen checkmate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-and-queen-checkmate.md) - [Stalemate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/stalemate.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 - [Bishop and knight checkmate in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-and-knight-checkmate.md) - [Two knights endgame in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/two-knights-endgame.md) - [Opposite-colored bishops in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opposite-colored-bishops.md) - [King and queen checkmate in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-and-queen-checkmate.md) - [Stalemate in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/stalemate.md) - [Chess terms: Endgames](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/endgames.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)