Day 460: Pawn mate
Target rating: 1190
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. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to e2 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to f5 (g3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to h2 (g1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to f7 (e7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d1 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c8 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to a1 (b1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to a2 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: rook to d7 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: pawn to f4 (f5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (f5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: rook to h8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: pawn to d6 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to a6 (a1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to e7 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (e2·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d7 (c6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to h6 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (h1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to g8 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to c2 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 461 →