Day 494: Mate defense
Target rating: 1240
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 f6 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to f6 (e4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to d8 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to h7 (h8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to f6 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d4 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Fork: queen to c5 (a5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: king to e2 (d1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f1 (g1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to f3 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e3 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to f6 (g4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to d7 (a7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g6 (g3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (h7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 495 →