Boden's Mate Chess Puzzles — Rated 1400

10 Boden's mates rated between 1400 and 1599, averaging 1534. 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 1400-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1400 is one that players around 1400 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 1400

  1. Boden's Mate puzzle 1, rated 1580a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1580 · White to play after Bc6
    Show solution

    Rxc6+ bxc6 Ba6#

  2. Boden's Mate puzzle 2, rated 1467h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1467 · Black to play after O-O-O
    Show solution

    Ba3#

  3. Boden's Mate puzzle 3, rated 1474a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1474 · White to play after bxc6
    Show solution

    Ba6#

  4. Boden's Mate puzzle 4, rated 1475a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1475 · White to play after Qh5
    Show solution

    Qxc6+ bxc6 Ba6#

  5. Boden's Mate puzzle 5, rated 1599a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1599 · White to play after Nbd7
    Show solution

    Qxc6+ bxc6 Ba6#

  6. Boden's Mate puzzle 6, rated 1565h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1565 · Black to play after c3
    Show solution

    Rxc3+ bxc3 Ba3#

  7. Boden's Mate puzzle 7, rated 1551a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1551 · White to play after O-O-O
    Show solution

    Qxc6+ bxc6 Ba6#

  8. Boden's Mate puzzle 8, rated 1599a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1599 · White to play after Qg4
    Show solution

    Qxc6+ bxc6 Ba6#

  9. Boden's Mate puzzle 9, rated 1546a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1546 · White to play after Qxf7
    Show solution

    Qxc6+ bxc6 Ba6#

  10. Boden's Mate puzzle 10, rated 1483h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1483 · Black to play after c3
    Show solution

    Rxc3+ bxc3 Bxa3#

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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 1400 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1400 is one that players rated around 1400 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1534, so they suit 1400-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.