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Day 761: 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. Mate in 3: queen to b6 (a7)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: king to h1 (h2·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (b6·5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to a4 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to g4Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: knight to c6 (a7)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (g8)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: bishop to e6Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: knight to g7Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e1·6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 3: knight to c5 (b7)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (b2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to a7 (f2·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: bishop to e7Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (f7)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to a5 (d2·2)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to e7 (g7·5)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e2·8)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (g7·5)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to a8 (e4·4)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to d7 (e5·19)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to f4 (g4·2)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: discovered attack on g4Shuffle Rating 1708Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to f4 (h4·3)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: rook to d3 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 1840Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 3: fork on e6Shuffle Rating 1868Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 3: knight to g3 (e2·2)Shuffle Rating 1951Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: queen to e7Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (f4·27)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 762 →