Day 490: Knight mate
Target rating: 1088
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. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a3 (b2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a4 (a1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a2 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (e1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (f2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a4 (c3·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g4 (d1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·56)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: bishop to a7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (d3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: knight to f4 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to h7 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: king to g1 (f2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: king to e2 (d1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to b7 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: king to c1 (b1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to b7 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: king to h1 (g1·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to e8 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to b3 (b2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 491 →