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Day 832: 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 c7 (h2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: knight to a6Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to a8 (a7·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: bishop to g5Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to f1 (g2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to e4 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: bishop to f6 (c3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: rook to f6 (f1·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: rook to b6 (b2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: rook to g1 (h1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 3: queen to f8 (f7·4)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to e3 (e2)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to e5 (e8·2)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (e6·2)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (f8)Shuffle Rating 1863Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to e3 (c5)Shuffle Rating 1857Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: deflection on f3Shuffle Rating 1859Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Skewer: rook to f5Shuffle Rating 1858Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: bishop to f6Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to c8 (h3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: rook to g2 (g3)Shuffle Rating 1783Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: rook to e1 (e8·7)Shuffle Rating 1784Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (b5·14)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Deflection: bishop to a7Shuffle Rating 2035Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: queen to f5 (g5·3)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: knight to d5 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 1869Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: knight to g6 (e5·5)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 833 →