Day 515: Knight mate
Target rating: 1262
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: queen to a3 (a2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to d1 (e1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (e5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: king to a3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to c5 (d3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to d7 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to e6 (f4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to f3 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (c5·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to h6 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (f8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: bishop to d6 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: knight to c6 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to c3 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Castling-960 to the rescue on a1 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Castling-960 to the rescue on a8 (d8·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Castling-960 to the rescue on a8 (c8·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Castling-960 to the rescue on b1 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Castling-960 to the rescue on g8 (e8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Castling-960 to the rescue on h1 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Castling-960 to the rescue on c8 (d8·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Castling-960 to the rescue on h1 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Castling-960 to the rescue on h8 (f8·5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 516 →