Day 233: Corner mate
Target rating: 907
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 c5 (d4·35)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e2 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (a1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a4 (c3·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·51)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4 (b3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to d2 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to e4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: rook to d8 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: rook to h3 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to b6 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to g8 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to b4 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (f1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to b6 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to g6 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to e1 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: pawn to e6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d2 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (a5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to c5 (d3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 234 →