Day 773: Knight mate
Target rating: 1651
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. Mate in 3: pawn to d3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: bishop to a2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: bishop to f4 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to f4 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to d7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to a5 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to f5 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: knight to g4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: rook to d5 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to g5 (e7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e4·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: bishop to c6 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to g8 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (h6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (h4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to f5 (f4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to f6 (g6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to b5 (c5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to e5 (g4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: bishop to e7 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to g3 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 774 →