Day 823: Knight mate
Target rating: 1751
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: rook to h6 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: rook to g4 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (f5·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: knight to b5 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: rook to g8 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: rook to h3 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (f7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: bishop to d7 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to e7 (e1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d7 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: bishop to g7 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: rook to f5 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to b4 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: rook to h8 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to a8 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 824 →