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Day 656: 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. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (e5·19)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 2: queen to h8 (h6·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 2: rook to g7 (g1·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 2: knight to e6 (g5·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to e2 (c3·5)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g6 (e5·8)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (h6·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to e2 (d1·22)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 3: bishop to g3Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to g1 (h1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: knight to d6 (b5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e3·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: bishop to a6 (e2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Discovered attack: rook to d4Shuffle Rating 1461Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to h7 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1461Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: queen to f3 (f5)Shuffle Rating 1463Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Pin: knight to g6Shuffle Rating 1466Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: rook to c2Shuffle Rating 1468Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: bishop to d7 (e6)Shuffle Rating 1468Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: queen to e5 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: knight to e4 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1410Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to h3 (g4·3)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: knight to e4 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1473Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: rook to g2 (f2·4)Shuffle Rating 1650Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: knight to e1 (d3·5)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (b8·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d8)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 657 →