Damiano's bishop mate

In Damiano's bishop mate, the queen moves to a square next to the enemy king, usually when that king is on the edge of the board, and attacks it. It is checkmate when the king is under attack and no legal reply can end that attack. A queen at such close range controls several escape squares, but the king could capture it if it were unprotected.

The bishop performs the decisive role by attacking the square occupied by the queen. A king may not move onto a square controlled by an enemy piece, so it cannot capture the queen. The queen covers the other nearby squares, while the board edge or additional pieces remove any remaining escape.

The queen can remain on g7

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

a1

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

The queen on g7 attacks h8 from an adjacent square.

The diagonal makes the capture illegal

The queen gives the final check beside the king, and the bishop makes the queen untouchable.

1. The queen on g7 attacks h8 from an adjacent square.
2. The bishop on c3 protects g7, so the king cannot capture the queen.
3. The queen also controls g8 and h7, the two remaining escapes.

Practical cue

Look for a bishop diagonal ending on a square beside the king. If the queen can occupy that square with check, verify three points: the bishop still protects it, the king has no other safe square, and no piece can capture the queen or block the check.

The pattern differs from Balestra mate in which piece checks. In Damiano's bishop mate, the queen mates and the bishop supports it. In Balestra, the queen controls the exits and the bishop delivers mate.