Day 467: Mate defense
Target rating: 1201
Lesson of the day
Mate defense: your opponent is one move from mating you — but it is your turn, and that changes everything. Find the defense that kills the mating threat while keeping your advantage: often a check or a counter-threat that leaves no time for the mate. First name the exact square where the mate would land — otherwise you are defending blind. The mistake is playing a "defensive" move that does not actually remove the threat.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: queen to d6 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to b6 (d8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to f8 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to c7 (f7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to b5 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c8 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to b7 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to e7 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to b5 (c3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to d1 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g2 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: king to f2 (g1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: king to h1 (g1·29)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to e2 (e1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to f5 (e4·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a2 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: king to f1 (g1·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: pawn to c5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Skewer: rook to a8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: king to c1 (b1·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to f5 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to c1 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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