Day 536: Knight mate
Target rating: 1296
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: pawn to f3 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to h1 (g1·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (b2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d1 (e1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (b1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to d2 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to c2 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: king to a1 (a2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to g5 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: knight to f5 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (d3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to a3 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b4 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (a8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (f7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (e4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to f6 (e4·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 537 →