Day 452: Knight mate
Target rating: 1177
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: king to f2 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to d2 (c1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to d2 (c1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (d5·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to g2 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to d2 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d5 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: knight to h6 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: bishop to e6 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g6 (f4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to a8 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to c3 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (e7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e7 (e6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to h4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to a7 (a5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to e1 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (h2·31)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: knight to c6 (a5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to f4 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 453 →