Day 107: Mate in 2
Target rating: 737
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: bishop to f5 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to d4 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (e5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to h2 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (f4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to c8 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c3 (b2·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to g3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: rook to h4 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to f6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: rook to h5 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to d5 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·30)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (c3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·38)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·30)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (e3·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a3 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·72)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h7 (g5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 108 →