Day 786: Pawn mate
Target rating: 1683
Lesson of the day
The pawn mate lets the humblest soldier land the final blow. It happens to a king stuck among its own and enemy pieces: the pawn strikes diagonally from one square away and there is nowhere left to run. The sign: the squares around the king are covered or occupied, and your pawn stands one step from striking distance. Never write pawns out of your attack — their blows are the cheapest and therefore the most humiliating.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (d4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to d2 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to a8 (a5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: bishop to g7 (a1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to h3 (g2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to d7 (c5·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c6 (b6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Pin: rook to c6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Fork: queen to f4 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Fork: bishop to g5 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: queen to c7 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to c7 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (a6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to b7 (b8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: pin on f2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to c6 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: bishop to d7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: rook to e7 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: bishop to a2 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (a6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: bishop to f2 (c5·4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: bishop to c5 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: knight to d7 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 787 →