Day 411: Knight mate
Target rating: 1128
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: pawn to g3 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to b2 (a3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to d7 (e5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (f3·33)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to g5 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to f5 (e4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d4 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (e3·46)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (d4·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: knight to d5 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to h8 (h7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: rook to g8 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to d3 (c2·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (g3·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to d6 (a3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c7 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g7 (f6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3 (c2·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to f2 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to h3 (g3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (g2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (a1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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