Learn How to Epaulette Mate: King Safety
This puzzle is a classic king-safety tactic in a sharp middlegame: the attacking side uses a forcing check to drive the enemy king into a cramped defensive setup, then finishes with a mating net. The key idea behind an epaulette mate is that the king’s escape squares are blocked by its own pieces, so even a seemingly active defense fails. In practical terms, the attack works because the queen and rook coordinate to limit flight squares and exploit pinned defenders.