Crushing the Castle: Clear 'em out, Officer Clarence!

Crushing the Castle:  Clear 'em Out, Officer Clarence!  By, Ms Jessica Era Martin (aka BoundingOwl)

Once upon a time your opponent castled.  In the distance, you could see the king was safe, buckled into his home, warm and smug.  So you waited, gathered your pieces.  Slowly you aimed at the castle.  You've developed everything.  Your own king is safe.  Have you seen the crushing the castle videos?  Now is the time to crush! 

 

Officer Clarence will clear the lines for you.  Then you can crash through!

Wait.  That's not Officer Clarence.

Ah.  Hello, Officer.

 

There will be 6 mate-in-two puzzles.  In each one you will have to open the lines to the king.  Get ready to sacrifice!

 

1.  A great way to open the lines for a bishop is to sacrifice your queen!  White to move.

 

 

2.  Start with a fork, then follow with a back rank mate.  White to move.

 

 

3.  Open lines for the bishop and queen.  This is a sideways Boden's Mate!  (Hooray patterns!)  Black to move.

 

 

4.  A true Boden's Mate.  A fancy queen sac to open the line to the king.  Black to move.

 

 

5.  The king is already pretty open.  Black's pieces are surrounding him.  Only one little pawn to move out of the way.  Black to move.

 

6.  Another knight sac.  The queen would like her open file.  Black to move.

 

 

 

 

 

Clarence congratulates you on crushing castles.  More crashing later!