Day 848: Knight mate
Target rating: 1796
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: queen to f6 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: bishop to e5 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: king to a1 (a2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to g5 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: bishop to c5 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to a6 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to g4 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: bishop to d4 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to d4 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: pawn to a4 (a2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (h7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: king to a3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to h3 (f5·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: pawn to h2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to d5 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to d8 (c7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to h5 (e2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b8·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to h8 (h5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to c4 (d3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to f3 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to f8 (f6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to e7 (f7·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to b5 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 849 →