White’s king looks peaceful, but the possibility of menace against it lurks just below the surface; a clue is the arrangement of both Black’s rooks and his queen on the eighth rank—Damiano’s queue. In this case their potential seems muted because the h-file is clogged with two pawns, one from each side. But pawns arranged like this sometimes can be cleared by forcing an exchange on a neighboring square—i.e., g3. Or if you didn’t see that, observe the knight fork Black can inflict against White’s king and queen with 1. …Ng3+. This invites White to reply h2xN and then your recapture 2. …h4xg3. That exchange not only leaves the h-file open but also discovers check and leaves a Black pawn positioned to support mate with the queen on h2. Now Damiano’s mate plays out easily: 3. …Rh1+, 4. KxR (White’s king can't escape to f2 because the Black pawn now on g3 guards the square); Rh8+; 5. Kg1, Rh1+; 6. KxR, Qh8+; 7. Kg1, Qh2+ (at last reaching the desired position); 8. Kf1 (fleeing, but the king is stuck on the back rank), Qh1#.

If you understand the principle behind Damiano’s mate this position is long but easy—once you see how the h-file can be opened. The knight move used to clear the two pawns away is useful and worth a close look. But understand that if your opponent is wise he will not play along; he is better off letting your knight take his queen, which at least avoids the forced mate even if it ends the game as a practical matter.