Day 681: Discovered mate
Target rating: 1480
Lesson of the day
In a discovered mate the piece that moves is not the one that mates — the long-range piece behind it delivers the blow. The moving piece is completely free: it can land anywhere, ideally stealing the king's last squares or guarding key points. Look for your rook, bishop or queen lined up with the enemy king, with exactly one of your own pieces in between. When choosing the unveiling move, remember its second job — shutting the king's escape door.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: queen to h8 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to g2 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to b7 (f3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 2: bishop to a7 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to e7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to e5 (d3·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (b2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to e1 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h7 (c2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: queen to d4 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to a5 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: knight to d8 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: knight to h6 (g4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to h7 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to g6 (f4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to d4 (d1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h8·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to f5 (d4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to c4 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to d6 (b5·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to b4 (f4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to a6 (a5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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