Shogi glossary
Brinkmate (hisshi)
Japanese: 必至
In shogi, a brinkmate (hisshi) is a mate threat that no defense can stop: whatever the opponent plays, the king can then be checkmated by force, unless the opponent mates you first.
A mate threat that cannot be stopped by any defense.
What makes it unstoppable
Hisshi means certain or inevitable. A brinkmate usually does two jobs in one move: it takes away the king's last escape square and sets up a mating drop. Because the move is normally not a check, the defender gets a free move, but every option fails. Guarding one mating square leaves another open, and the king has nowhere to run.
The defender's last resort
Against a brinkmate the only hope is counterattack. The defender can give checks, and if those checks lead to mate, the brinkmate never matters. So before playing one, make sure your own king cannot be mated by a string of checks. When it cannot, a brinkmate wins even if you are behind in material, because the opponent's extra pieces have no time to act.
Brinkmate problems
Besides mate problems, there are puzzles whose task is to find the brinkmate. They train the quiet finishing moves that checks alone cannot provide.
Try it · from “Mate Threats and Brinkmate”
Find the brinkmate: a threat White cannot stop.
FAQ
What is the difference between brinkmate and mate threat?
Every brinkmate is a mate threat, but not every mate threat is a brinkmate. An ordinary mate threat can be parried; a brinkmate has no defense except a faster attack.
Related
Terms:
Lessons: Mate Threats and Brinkmate · Closing In: Wrap the King · Pawn Techniques: Dangling and Joining Pawns
I don't do defense. Hope you brought a castle!
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