Two Bishops versus King
Overview
Two bishops win against a bare king from any position. Together the bishops control diagonals of both colours, so the enemy king can never slip past them. The price is patience: the mate only happens in a corner, and it takes precise coordination of all three pieces.
The diagonal wall
Place the bishops on adjacent diagonals so that they form a barrier the defending king cannot cross. Step the wall forward one rank at a time, always keeping it unbroken, while your king follows behind to prepare the final net. Moving a bishop too far is the classic error: the wall gets a hole and the king escapes.
The corner mate
The defending king is pushed to a corner square. The mating picture: one bishop gives check on the diagonal next to the king while your own king guards the remaining escape squares.
Bf8–g7# — the dark-squared bishop lands next to the king, protected by the white king on g6.
Practice positions
Play each position out against the engine from the exact spot on the board — unrated, you take the strong side.
From the starting formation: build the diagonal wall and march the king to a corner (longest of the basic drills).
♞ Play vs engineFinish in one: the king is cornered — find the protected bishop check.
♞ Play vs engine