Day 717: Mate defense
Target rating: 1536
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: king to f1 (e1·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to g2 (f1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to a7 (a8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to d2 (c1·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to g7 (h7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to e2 (d1·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to b8 (b7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·34)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to d6 (e4·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: king to f2 (g1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c2 (d2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to f5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to f4 (c1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to e4 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to g8 (g4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (g6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to d3 (c3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (g5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to c5 (b3·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to c4 (e3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Pin: knight to h4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Pin: queen to f1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to a5 (b3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 718 →