Day 580: Mate defense
Target rating: 1350
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: bishop to f5 (d3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to f7 (g5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d2 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to b5 (a4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to c7 (b6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e2 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to g8 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to e8 (f8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (d4·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (f3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Fork: queen to d5 (d3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to d7 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to f5 (h3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to b2 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to d1 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to c7 (b6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to b5 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to b2 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to g8 (f7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d1·28)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to f3 (f1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to d5 (d1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 581 →