Day 102: Mate in 2
Target rating: 729
Lesson of the day
Mate in two: your move, any reply, then the mating blow. Start with the most forcing first moves — checks and sacrifices that shrink the opponent's options to almost nothing. Against every single reply you must have a mate ready, so check them all without exception. The common failure is analyzing the pretty defense and forgetting the boring one.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (e3·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (e3·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·29)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (f3·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (a5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c3 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c7 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g4 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (g8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to f2 (f7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: rook to e1 (e7·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to h2 (c7·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to f2 (b6·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (d5·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·40)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·41)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to e8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (c5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 103 →