Day 344: Pawn mate
Target rating: 1048
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. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c4 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g5 (c1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h5 (g4·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d7 (g4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to d8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (g5·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a5 (b4·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: pawn to b3 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: bishop to h2 (e5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: pawn to g6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to e8 (e5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to b5 (d4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: bishop to f4 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: rook to c8 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to g3 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to g8 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: bishop to d3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: rook to d8 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 1: rook to h2 (h7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Fork: bishop to g4 (f5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 345 →