FoxyChess › Checkmates › Double Bishop Mate
Double Bishop Mate
The two bishops work side by side on neighbouring diagonals. One gives check, the other takes away the escape squares, and the king's own pawn completes the net.
How to spot it
When both your bishops point at the enemy king, see whether opening one diagonal (often with a sacrifice) leaves the king nowhere to go.
How it arises
Both bishops point at a king in the corner on neighbouring diagonals, typically after the knight on f6 has been removed and the g-pawn has gone. One bishop checks, the other covers the escape square.
A worked example
1.Bb2#. The bishop on d5 covers g8, the pawn on h7 blocks the king, and the check along the long diagonal is mate.
How to defend against it
Don't give up the long diagonal in front of your king, and keep a knight or pawn that can block it. Exchanging one of the two bishops ends the danger.
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