Dovetail Mate

In the dovetail mate the protected queen checks diagonally next to the king, and the one escape the queen doesn't cover is blocked by the king's own piece.

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Start
Pieces
Queen
Level
Intermediate
Mating side
White
Also known as
cozio matı, dovetail mate, cozio's mate

Moves

1.Qd7#

1.Qd7 gives check, protected by the b6 knight. The queen covers d8, e7 and f7, and Black's own bishop sits on f8: mate.

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How to recognise Dovetail Mate

  • The queen is diagonally adjacent to the king and protected.
  • The escape the queen can't see is occupied by the king's own piece.

How to defend

  • Avoid clogging the squares next to your king.
  • Guard the squares from which a queen can approach diagonally.
Dovetail Mate: the final position

Frequently asked questions

Is Cozio's mate the same as the dovetail?

Cozio's mate is a form of the dovetail; in both, the queen is diagonally adjacent to the king.

Why 'dovetail'?

The shape formed by king, queen and blocked squares resembles a bird's tail.

Continue with lessons

Similar checkmate patterns

  • Swallow's Tail Mate — In the swallow's tail mate the protected queen checks directly in front of the king, and the king's diagonal retreats are blocked by its own pieces.
  • Epaulette Mate — In the epaulette mate the king's own rooks stand on both sides, like the epaulettes on a soldier's shoulders.
  • Queen and King Mate — Queen and king versus king is the first endgame technique every player must know: the queen drives the king to the edge, your king approaches and the queen mates on the last rank.

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