Boden's Mate Chess Puzzles — Rated 1200

10 Boden's mates rated between 1200 and 1399, averaging 1293. Each position below is from a real game, with the solution given underneath — so you can check yourself immediately rather than guessing whether you were right.

Boden's mate is a criss-cross of two bishops on intersecting diagonals against a queenside-castled king, typically after a sacrifice removes the c-pawn's defender.

These are pitched at 1200-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1200 is one that players around 1200 solve about half the time, so if you are getting most of these you should move up a band.

Solving from a page is good for pattern recognition but not for tracking progress. The rated puzzle trainer serves puzzles matched to your own rating and adjusts as you solve, and the Mistake Trainer builds puzzles from positions you actually got wrong in your own games.

Boden's Mate puzzles rated 1200

  1. Boden's Mate puzzle 1, rated 1344h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1344 · Black to play after Be5
    Show solution

    Qa3+ Qxa3 Bxa3#

  2. Boden's Mate puzzle 2, rated 1297a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1297 · White to play after Bg6
    Show solution

    Rxc6+ bxc6 Ba6#

  3. Boden's Mate puzzle 3, rated 1215a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1215 · White to play after Ne7
    Show solution

    Rxf6+ gxf6 Bh6#

  4. Boden's Mate puzzle 4, rated 1270h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1270 · Black to play after b3
    Show solution

    Ba3#

  5. Boden's Mate puzzle 5, rated 1271h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1271 · Black to play after Nf4
    Show solution

    Bb4+ c3 Bxc3#

  6. Boden's Mate puzzle 6, rated 1350a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1350 · White to play after Bf5
    Show solution

    Rxc6+ bxc6 Ba6#

  7. Boden's Mate puzzle 7, rated 1338a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1338 · White to play after Rexd8
    Show solution

    Qe6+ Qxe6 Bxe6#

  8. Boden's Mate puzzle 8, rated 1281a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1281 · White to play after Qxd4
    Show solution

    Qxc6+ bxc6 Ba6#

  9. Boden's Mate puzzle 9, rated 1226h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1226 · Black to play after Rxf7
    Show solution

    Bc3#

  10. Boden's Mate puzzle 10, rated 1336a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1336 · White to play after Bxa2
    Show solution

    Rxc6+ bxc6 Ba6#

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Frequently asked questions

What is a boden's mate in chess?

Boden's mate is a criss-cross of two bishops on intersecting diagonals against a queenside-castled king, typically after a sacrifice removes the c-pawn's defender.

What does a puzzle rating of 1200 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1200 is one that players rated around 1200 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1293, so they suit 1200-rated players.

Are these boden's mate puzzles free?

Yes. Every puzzle on this page, including its solution, is free to view with no account. The rated trainer that tracks your progress and serves puzzles matched to your rating is part of Chess Ramp Premium.