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Two Bishop Checkmate

Yury Markushin
Yury Markushin
03.06.2010
Category: Endgame
Tags: 2 bishops mate, Checkmate with two bishops, chess checkmates, computer checkmate, learn to checkmate,
Two Bishop Checkmate

Two Bishop Mate is another checkmate that seems problematic for club-level chess players to implement, even though it should not be.

I have previously written about Knight + Bishop Checkmate, which is much more subtle, but no doubt very important to know.

The main idea of checkmating with two bishops is occupying the center with the bishops, using the King to force the opponent’s King to the edge of the board and checkmating.

 

We still have 50 move rule, but it’s less crucial in Two Bishop Endgame since checkmate is being forced much quicker than in Bishop + Knight or Queen vs. Rook cases.

I will explain step by step how exactly to checkmate a lone King with two Bishops.

Step 1

The first step in the Two Bishop endgame is to occupy the central squares d4, d4, e4, e5 with our Bishops. We need to first get to the position shown in the diagram below, placing the Bishops on the long diagonals h1-a8 and a1-h8. Then we place our Bishops on e4 and d5 squares limiting the Black King to only 12 squares (see the actual game below).

***

Step 2

In this step we walk our King to the f5 square and to getting ready to shift our bishops to c5 and d5. We need to move the Bishops so that Black’s King cannot attack any of the Bishops. So, we first shift dark square Bishop to c5 and only then shift light square bishop to d5 (note how two bishops guard each other creating the wall and making it impossible for Black King to penetrate).

Step 3

At this point we have achieved the position shown on the diagram below. Now we need to transfer our King to e6 and to shift the Bishop once again to the left occupying b6 and c6. Remmember that we need not let Black’s King to attack our Bishops.

Step 4

At this point the Black King has only two squares to move on: a8 and b8. We checkmate the Black’s King the following way: play 19. Bd7 to trap the Black King in the corner and then after 19… Ka8 we play 20. Bd4 followed by 20…Kb8 21.Be5+ Ka8 and finally 21. Bc6#

We have forced a checkmate with Two Bishops in 21 moves. Remember the basic points while checkmating with two bishops:

  • Occupy the center with Two Bishops, in particular e4, e5, d4, d5
  • Transfer your King to f5
  • Shift your bishops to the left, forcing the Black King to the edge of the board
  • Move your King a6 and checkmate the Black’s king with the bishops

If you want to be able to reproduce the mating pattern in tournament conditions you need to practice this endgame against a human opponent or a computer: “practice makes perfect”. If you’re interested in learning more endgames I recommend to taking a look at Improve Your Endgame Play and 13 Checkmates You Must Know which covers stadard mating patterns.

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Yury
06.30.2014 20:13

[quote name=”wolverine”]Where are the thirteen checkmates you said we must know? That’s why I clicked on this page.[/quote]

This page is about Two Bishop checkmate, however we do have an article about 13 Checkmates You Have to Know: its here

http://www.thechessworld.com/learn-chess/9-training-techniques/114-13-checkmates-you-must-know

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wolverine
06.30.2014 02:43

Where are the thirteen checkmates you said we must know? That’s why I clicked on this page.

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CESAR
02.14.2014 03:41

NICE!!!!

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John Herron
09.05.2013 18:37

My book, TOTAL CHESS, outlines another easy method of checkmating with king & two bishops vs. king. It also includes an easy method for king & queen vs. king, king & rook vs. king, king & pawn vs. king, and king & bishop & knight vs. king.

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ortodata
03.18.2013 03:07

Is the easiest system to understand that I’ve seen. It is not difficult to push the King to that position.

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chess noob
08.24.2012 07:24

can’t play this endgame, the computer always finds different ways to respond to my moves, avoiding the technique you suggested.

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Yury
01.24.2011 04:43

This exact endgame? 🙂

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COBrent
01.20.2011 02:55

I would like to play you

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Yury
01.07.2011 04:40

Thanks, I hope you will have a chance to use it in a real game!

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IndroP
12.24.2010 04:19

It’s very clear! Thanks Mr. Yuri.

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neluka
03.07.2010 01:38

i hv learned it long time ago, but urs is very clearly explained. tks a lot. 🙂

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Adam
03.07.2010 01:05

Excellent strategy Yuri – and the more of these end game scenarios you write about the easier for me it is to imagine how to end with a variation of these…

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