Day 614: Knight mate
Target rating: 1388
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 b5 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to d5 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to a2 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to g2 (f2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to g7 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to h4 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b2 (c1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: pawn to d7 (e6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to d2 (e1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f3 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (f3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: knight to c5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (c3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: knight to e4 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to f6 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: knight to b6 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to f6 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: queen to d5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: knight to c5 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: bishop to d4 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b1 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to b6 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 615 →