Basic checkmatesStep 6 of 6
Boden's mate
Two bishops on crossing diagonals. A bishop pair is a weapon — if you see it coming.
Two bishops crossing. That is all there is to it — but you have to see it coming.
When your opponent castles queenside, his king ends up on c8 with his own pieces around him. Two bishops on crossing diagonals then cover every square he has: one gives the check, the other blocks the escape.
Demonstration — use the arrows
Move list
What this teaches you beyond the mate: bishops are not worth much alone, but a pair of bishops on crossing diagonals is a weapon. Whenever you have both bishops and your opponent has castled queenside, check whether those two diagonals lead somewhere.
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