Day 284: Pawn mate
Target rating: 972
Lesson of the day
The pawn mate lets the humblest soldier land the final blow. It happens to a king stuck among its own and enemy pieces: the pawn strikes diagonally from one square away and there is nowhere left to run. The sign: the squares around the king are covered or occupied, and your pawn stands one step from striking distance. Never write pawns out of your attack — their blows are the cheapest and therefore the most humiliating.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: queen to e1 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h3 (h1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·45)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to a5 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a2 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (g3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a2 (a1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·44)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to e5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to a4 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: knight to g5 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to a6 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Discovered attack: bishop to h7 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h1 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c1 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f1 (g1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to b3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c1 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to a3 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: king to a2 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to d7 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to e2 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 285 →