FoxyChess › Checkmates › Dovetail Mate
Dovetail Mate
The queen mates from a square diagonally next to the king, protected by another piece. The king's own piece blocks the one square the queen doesn't cover, so the pattern looks like a dovetail joint. Also called Cozio's mate.
How to spot it
If your queen can reach a square diagonally touching the enemy king, and that square is protected, check what the king's own pieces are blocking.
How it arises
The queen comes to a square diagonally next to the enemy king, protected by another piece, while the king's own pieces block the two squares the queen doesn't cover. It is common in the middlegame against a king that has lost its pawn cover.
A worked example
1.Qxd7#. The bishop on b5 protects the queen, and the rook on f8 blocks the king's only escape.
How to defend against it
A queen that can reach a square next to your king, with support, is the danger. Keep the squares beside your king free of your own pieces, or keep a defender covering them.
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