Day 950: Mate in 4+
Target rating: 1996
Lesson of the day
Mate in four or longer is a marathon of forcing moves where the grip must never loosen. The tools are the same: checks, double threats and sacrifices that deny the opponent a single free tempo. Do not juggle the whole tree at once — walk the main line all the way to mate first, then verify the side branches. If somewhere the defender finds one quiet move that holds, your very first move was wrong.
Warm-up
1. Chess960 tactic on f6 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Chess960 tactic on e7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Chess960 tactic on h6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Chess960 tactic on g2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Chess960 tactic on g8 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Chess960 tactic on c6 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Chess960 tactic on a8 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to h7 (b1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Chess960 tactic on d5 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to c6 (c1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: king to f1 (g2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (h8·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Chess960 tactic on d5 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Chess960 tactic on d5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Chess960 tactic on e4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to d6 (e4·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (e6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to c7 (g3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to c6 (c1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to e7 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Chess960 tactic on g6 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to f6 (a1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Chess960 tactic on e5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to b8 (e8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Chess960 tactic on g3 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 951 →