FoxyChess › Checkmates › Balestra Mate
Balestra Mate
A bishop gives check from a distance while the queen covers every square around the king. Because the queen is not in line with the king, the defender often doesn't see it coming.
How to spot it
When your queen already controls the squares around the enemy king, look for a long-range bishop check to finish the job.
How it arises
Usually in the middlegame when the enemy king is still in the centre or on an open back rank, the queen has already taken up a post nearby and a bishop can give check from a distance along an open diagonal.
A worked example
1.Bc6#. The queen on f6 already covers d8, e7, f7 and f8; the bishop's check leaves the king on e8 with nowhere to go.
How to defend against it
Watch the diagonals that lead to your king once the queen has settled nearby. A single pawn or piece on the diagonal is enough to stop the bishop.
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