Day 906: Mate defense
Target rating: 1908
Lesson of the day
Mate defense: your opponent is one move from mating you — but it is your turn, and that changes everything. Find the defense that kills the mating threat while keeping your advantage: often a check or a counter-threat that leaves no time for the mate. First name the exact square where the mate would land — otherwise you are defending blind. The mistake is playing a "defensive" move that does not actually remove the threat.
Warm-up
1. Mate in 3: bishop to g7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: rook to g2 (g8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: knight to h6 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: knight to e6 (g7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: rook to g7 (f7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: bishop to e6 (c8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c7 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: rook to f8 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: rook to f8 (f7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Rescue the bishop to b2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Fork: queen to d5 (d2·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Win the hanging king on g7 (h7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to b7 (d7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Win the hanging bishop on a5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: rook to a7 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to f7 (e7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to b6 (d4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: queen to g6 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to h7 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: rook to f4 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: queen to f4 (f7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (a1·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (e4·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to d7 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 907 →