Day 190: Corner mate
Target rating: 854
Lesson of the day
The corner mate catches a king driven into the corner, where it has only three neighboring squares — all of them taken away or blocked. The corner is the worst home for a king, because the attacker needs to control the fewest squares there. Herd the king toward the corner with checks and never let it slip back toward the center. Cut off the escape routes before the final check, and the mate practically assembles itself.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f4 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a1 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h4 (h1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a2 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to b3 (a2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a8 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g4 (g1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to c8 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to e1 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to h3 (g3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: knight to g6 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: knight to g6 (h4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to f1 (f2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to e7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h7 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to a8 (a7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e3 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: rook to d1 (c1)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a8 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (g2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 191 →