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Day 883: 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 c6 (f6·3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (e4·7)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to g5 (e7·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: rook to b7 (b8·3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to d4 (d5·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to h7 (g8)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (f4·12)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: bishop to g6 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h7 (g5·16)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to a8 (a5)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Chess960 tactic on g3Shuffle Rating 2120Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Chess960 tactic on e5Shuffle Rating 2120Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Chess960 tactic on f5 (g5)Shuffle Rating 2120Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5·32)Shuffle Rating 2120Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: bishop to b5 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 2123Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to e1 (f1)Shuffle Rating 1956Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Discovered attack: knight to e4 (c5)Shuffle Rating 1959Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: bishop to f2 (c5·6)Shuffle Rating 1960Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to f5 (f1·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e4·8)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: queen to b6 (d8)Shuffle Rating 1872Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to h5 (h1·5)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to a7 (b5·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d2·6)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to g4 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Fork: knight to d6 (f5)Shuffle Rating 2050Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Fork: rook to c3 (c1)Shuffle Rating 2145Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (f1·9)Shuffle Rating 2200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (g5·3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: knight to e6 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 884 →