Day 611: Boden's mate
Target rating: 1384
Lesson of the day
Boden's mate crosses two bishop diagonals over a king blocked by its own pieces. The classic victim has castled on the queenside: its own rook and pawns have stolen the escape squares, and the bishops slash crosswise. The trigger is usually a queen sacrifice that blasts open the second diagonal. Whenever the enemy king is boxed in by its friends, ask whether both of your bishops can reach it on crossing diagonals.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: queen to f5 (f3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to e8 (d6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to e3 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (d5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to h7 (h6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to a1 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to c8 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to g2 (g1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a2 (b1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: bishop to e4 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: bishop to f4 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: knight to g5 (e6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: king to h2 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: king to c1 (b1·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·33)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to e4 (b1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (e8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to c8 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (c5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to e2 (e1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 612 →