Blackburne's mate

Blackburne's mate[edit]

Blackburne's mate is named for Joseph Henry Blackburne and is a rare method of checkmating. The checkmate utilizes the black rook (it could be a bishop or queen instead) to confine the black king's escape to the f8 square. One of the bishops confines the black king's movement by operating at a distance, while the knight and the other bishop operate within close range.^[5] Threatening Blackburne's mate can be used to weaken Black's position.