Day 291: Mate in 2
Target rating: 984
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: king to b2 (c1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f1 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (d5·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to f4 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·88)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c4 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b4 (a3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (d5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: knight to e8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (g7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (e5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: bishop to e7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (h1·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (f5·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (g3·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to d3 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (c1·29)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to h8 (h7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f2 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·93)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 292 →