Damiano's Mate

In Damiano's mate the queen checks on h7, supported by a pawn on g6. It is named after the 16th-century Portuguese author Pedro Damiano.

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Pieces: Queen + pawn
Level: Beginner
Mating side: White
Also known as: damiano mate, vezir ve piyon matı, piyon destekli vezir matı

Moves

1.Qh7#

1.Qh7 gives check. The queen is protected by the g6 pawn so the king can't take it; f8 holds Black's rook, f7 its pawn, and the queen covers g7 and h8: mate.

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How to recognise Damiano's Mate

White has an advanced pawn on g6 (g3 for Black).
The queen arrives on h7 via the h-file.
The king's f8 square is blocked by its own rook.

How to defend

Capture a pawn arriving on g6 with ...fxg6 or close the h-file.
Move the rook off f8 to give the king a flight square.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Damiano?

Pedro Damiano, the Portuguese author of a chess book published in 1512.

Damiano vs Lolli's mate?

In Damiano's the pawn is on g6 and the queen mates on h7; in Lolli's the pawn is on f6 and the queen mates on g7.

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Similar checkmate patterns

Lolli's Mate — In Lolli's mate a pawn on f6 protects g7 and the queen mates there.
Fool's Mate — Fool's mate is the shortest checkmate in chess: White weakens the king with the f- and g-pawns and Black's queen mates from h4 in two moves.
Greco's Mate — In Greco's mate a bishop covers g8 from afar while a queen or rook checks down the h-file and mates the cornered king.

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