Day 645: Mate defense
Target rating: 1432
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. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c6 (g2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 2: rook to f6 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 2: knight to g6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h3 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to h3 (g2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 2: queen to d5 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to b6 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·41)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to g3 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to f8 (e8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to f7 (h5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to g5 (c1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to c4 (d3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to b4 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to c3 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to b8 (b7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to g7 (c7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to c7 (a7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to c1 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to d8 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 646 →