Day 887: Knight mate
Target rating: 1886
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: knight to c3 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to h5 (h3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to a7 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (a5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (a1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to a5 (d2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: knight to g5 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to g6 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: rook to h8 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: rook to b7 (b1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to c5 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to g6 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: knight to e5 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to g1 (g2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: queen to c2 (g6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Win the hanging queen on g4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d1·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to b1 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to g5 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to e7 (c7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to g6 (g5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: king to d2 (e1·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to e5 (a1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 888 →