Day 74: Mate in 2
Target rating: 700
Lesson of the day
Mate in two: your move, any reply, then the mating blow. Start with the most forcing first moves — checks and sacrifices that shrink the opponent's options to almost nothing. Against every single reply you must have a mate ready, so check them all without exception. The common failure is analyzing the pretty defense and forgetting the boring one.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to c7 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a6 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·29)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h4 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e8 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to d4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to h4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to a1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: rook to d1 (d2·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: pawn to g5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to f2 (b6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (e5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g2 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e6 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c7 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (d5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (c5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c4 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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