Day 955: Knight mate
Target rating: 2006
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. Winning blow: knight to g6 (e5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to e7 (f7·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to a3 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to d6 (f5·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to f4 (f1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Fork: queen to e7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Win the hanging king on f5 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Fork: rook to g2 (g6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to c5 (d3·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Trap the bishop on c1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Chess960 tactic on b2 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Chess960 tactic on f5 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Chess960 tactic on f7 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Chess960 tactic on f6 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Chess960 tactic on f8 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to d4 (b4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Win the hanging rook on e3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to g6 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Win the hanging queen on e7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Win the hanging king on d2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Skewer: queen to e6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to a6 (a5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: queen to h7 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 956 →