Day 751: Knight mate
Target rating: 1596
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. Winning blow: rook to f1 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (f4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to a7 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to b5 (c3·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to h8 (g6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to c6 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d1·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f7 (g8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to g7 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: queen to a5 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: knight to g5 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: bishop to g5 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b5 (e2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Pin: rook to g3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to b5 (c3·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c7·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Trap the bishop on e5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Pin: rook to e3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Trap the pawn on h5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Fork: pawn to f3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g6 (g7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Pin: pawn to c6Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 752 →