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Day 211: Corner mate

Lesson of the day

The corner mate catches a king driven into the corner, where it has only three neighboring squares — all of them taken away or blocked. The corner is the worst home for a king, because the attacker needs to control the fewest squares there. Herd the king toward the corner with checks and never let it slip back toward the center. Cut off the escape routes before the final check, and the mate practically assembles itself.

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·64)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to e4 (e2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h5 (g3·9)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·19)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3 (c2·8)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4 (d3·7)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d2 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a5 (b3·9)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to d4Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h5 (h1·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1063Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (a8)Shuffle Rating 1064Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: deflection on g3Shuffle Rating 1075Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: rook to h6 (h3)Shuffle Rating 1080Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: knight to g3 (h5)Shuffle Rating 1083Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (a5·19)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4 (b3·19)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (h1·8)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c3 (d2·13)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to a7 (b8)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·111)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to f2 (g1·3)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d2 (f3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·70)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e1·11)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (c6·5)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: rook to a5 (f5)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (f3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a5 (b3·10)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·46)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 212 →