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Day 629: Epaulette mate

Lesson of the day

In the epaulette mate the king stands between two of its own pieces — most often rooks — like an officer wearing epaulettes. The side squares are blocked by friends, there is no retreat, and the queen mates head-on from directly in front of the king. The sign: a king on the edge rank with both neighboring squares on that rank occupied by its own pieces. Remember, extra defenders crowding the king can be deadlier than no defenders at all.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: queen to f5 (f1)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to e1 (f1·10)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to a3 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c7 (b8·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (a2·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d6 (b4·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to a7 (a2·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to e3 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f5 (h5)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to e6 (g6·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 3: queen to e5Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b1 (e1·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (g7·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b6 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (e1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: knight to c6 (e7·3)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to f4 (f3)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (g8)Shuffle Rating 1363Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f7)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to a1 (f1·5)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (h4·6)Shuffle Rating 1381Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to d1 (a4)Shuffle Rating 1415Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to b1 (e1·3)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (f5·3)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d1·2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 3: queen to d4 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 3: rook to h8 (b8)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: rook to e7 (f7·7)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: bishop to b7 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (h2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 630 →