Tactics · Learn
The Dovetail Mate
Also called Cozio's Mate: the queen mates a king that is boxed in by its own two pieces on the diagonal-adjacent escape squares, delivering check from a square defended by a friendly piece. The blocked flights form a dovetail shape.
How to spot it: when the enemy king's only two flight squares are occupied by its own men, a supported queen check from beside the king can be mate. Watch for the king boxed by its own rook and pawn.
How to spot it: when the enemy king's only two flight squares are occupied by its own men, a supported queen check from beside the king can be mate. Watch for the king boxed by its own rook and pawn.
Now spot it yourself
A real position: find the move. This is exactly what the drills in the app do, banded from beginner to expert.
How this lesson is made: this public explanation comes from the authored Strong Squares curriculum. Automated checks protect its chess data, source fields and learning flow. Independent chess-editor approval remains part of the private-preview release process. Read the teaching method.