Day 131: Mate in 2
Target rating: 776
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. Winning blow: queen to c3 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·50)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·93)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h1 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·91)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (c3·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (f5·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h4 (h3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b5 (b1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: rook to f3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: bishop to c3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: deflection on h6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to g3 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: knight to f3 (e5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b1 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·47)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: king to d2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (g4·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d2 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (f2·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (d3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·92)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·51)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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