Day 585: Knight mate
Target rating: 1358
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: rook to c6 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to d6 (e4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to b8 (b7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (b8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to b3 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·58)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to e6 (g6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g6 (c2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to h5 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: pawn to a8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (a8·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to h5 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: bishop to b4 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (c6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: bishop to e3 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (b7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: knight to a5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: knight to d6 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to h1 (b1)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to c6 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 586 →