Checkmate patterns
Dovetail mate
A queen mates an adjacent king whose only escapes are blocked by its own pieces.
What is the dovetail mate?
In the dovetail mate (also called Cozio's mate) a queen, defended by a friendly piece, gives check from a square diagonally next to the king. The king's only two flight squares are occupied by its own men, so the diagonal check is mate.
Why the dovetail mate matters
It is one of the prettiest queen mates and a reminder that the enemy's own pieces are often its worst enemy. Spotting it sharpens your sense of when a crowded king is actually a mated king.
How to use it to win
Look for an enemy king boxed in by two of its own pieces on the squares either side. A protected queen check on the remaining diagonal square finishes it.
Try an example puzzle
A real dovetail mate puzzle from the app. Black to move — find the idea, then reveal the line.
2 
6 
h Show solution
1. ... Qc5#
Drill the dovetail mate on thousands of real puzzles, matched to your rating.