Day 211: Corner mate
Target rating: 872
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: pawn to e5 (d4·64)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to e4 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h5 (g3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3 (c2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4 (d3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d2 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a5 (b3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to d4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h5 (h1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (a8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: deflection on g3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: rook to h6 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: knight to g3 (h5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (a5·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4 (b3·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (h1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c3 (d2·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to a7 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·111)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to f2 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d2 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·70)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 212 →