C&C Chess Club
Epaulette mate — crushed by its own rooks
5rkr/8/8/8/8/3Q4/8/6K1 w - - 0 1The plan
The king stands between its two rooks like between the epaulettes of a uniform — hence the name. Both rooks are completely unharmed, and yet they are the reason for the mate: they take away their own king's only flight squares to the side. So the queen only has to come in from the front. She positions herself directly in front of the king, thereby covering the two squares diagonally beside herself, and the picture is complete. It is notable that the queen stands here completely undefended — she is allowed to, because the king can never reach her at all. Remember: your own pieces standing close to the king are not a defence but a wall that works inward.
Why this level: One move, but the idea is unusual: the opponent's own pieces work for the attacker.
The solution, move by move
- 1. Qg6# Undefended right in front of the king — allowed, because the king cannot take a single step towards the queen past its own rooks.
Play it yourself
In the free app C&C Chess Club you step through the line move by move, tap the sidelines and play the position out against Stockfish — no account, no ads.
More in Mate with the queen
- Damiano's mate — the pawn carries the queen Mate in 1
- The h7 mate — the classic strike Mate in 1