Day 912: Knight mate
Target rating: 1923
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 c5 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: bishop to g7 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to e5 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to d4 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: bishop to h7 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to c4 (c3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to b3 (c2·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (b4·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to g4 (f2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to h3 (d3·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: double attack on f2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: bishop to h7 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to d2 (f4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: pawn to g5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to f2 (f6·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: knight to b8 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Win the hanging knight on f3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: king to c3 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to g5 (h6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Pin: rook to d5 (d8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to f6 (e4·30)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to c5 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e1·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 913 →