Day 724: Knight mate
Target rating: 1553
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. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (e5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to e8 (a8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c8 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to d3 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to a6 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to d4 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: pawn to d7 (e6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to h5 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to d1 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: queen to d6 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: bishop to f4 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to e3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: pawn to b5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: knight to d6 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: pawn to b8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: rook to d7 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to d4 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: queen to d6 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: king to c2 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: pawn to c7 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: rook to f1 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to g7 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 725 →