Day 374: Pawn mate
Target rating: 1084
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: pawn to e4 (d3·53)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to c1 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f2 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3 (e2·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to e1 (h4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (e4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to h2 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (b3·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: rook to d3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: rook to c8 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to d4 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a7 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to f6 (h4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Discovered attack: queen to e1 (e2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to d7 (c7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to f8 (a8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f7 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to g7 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 375 →