Boden's Mate Chess Puzzles — Rated 1600

10 Boden's mates rated between 1600 and 1799, averaging 1706. 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 1600-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1600 is one that players around 1600 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 1600

  1. Boden's Mate puzzle 1, rated 1634a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1634 · White to play after fxg5
    Show solution

    Qxh5+ Rxh5 Bg6#

  2. Boden's Mate puzzle 2, rated 1759a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1759 · White to play after f6
    Show solution

    Rxc6+ bxc6 Ba6#

  3. Boden's Mate puzzle 3, rated 1743a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1743 · White to play after Bf6
    Show solution

    Rxc6+ bxc6 Ba6#

  4. Boden's Mate puzzle 4, rated 1737h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1737 · Black to play after e5
    Show solution

    Qxc3+ bxc3 Ba3#

  5. Boden's Mate puzzle 5, rated 1745h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1745 · Black to play after Nbd2
    Show solution

    Qxc3+ bxc3 Ba3#

  6. Boden's Mate puzzle 6, rated 1667a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1667 · White to play after exf5
    Show solution

    Bc4+ d5 exd6#

  7. Boden's Mate puzzle 7, rated 1624h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1624 · Black to play after Bf3
    Show solution

    Bh3#

  8. Boden's Mate puzzle 8, rated 1742h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1742 · Black to play after g4
    Show solution

    Qxc3+ bxc3 Ba3#

  9. Boden's Mate puzzle 9, rated 1664a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1664 · White to play after Qh5
    Show solution

    Qxc6+ bxc6 Ba6#

  10. Boden's Mate puzzle 10, rated 1744h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1744 · Black to play after fxg3
    Show solution

    Bxg3+ Ke2 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 1600 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1600 is one that players rated around 1600 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1706, so they suit 1600-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.