Day 332: Knight mate
Target rating: 1033
Lesson of the day
In a knight mate the final blow comes from the knight — the only piece whose check can never be blocked. That makes it lethal against a cramped king: only a king move or capturing the knight itself can help. The sign: the squares around the king are occupied or covered, and there is a hop from which the knight checks while staying untouchable. Bring the knight over early — it is slower than the long-range pieces, but its strike cannot be parried.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: bishop to c1 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (d3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to d3 (c2·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to a8 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (d5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c7 (f4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to g3 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to f2 (h4·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: fork on f7 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to h4 (d8·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to f7 (b3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to f4 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to b3 (a2·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to h5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: bishop to e3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (d1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to h3 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to h5 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c7 (d6·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g8 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 333 →