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Day 374: Pawn mate

Lesson of the day

The pawn mate lets the humblest soldier land the final blow. It happens to a king stuck among its own and enemy pieces: the pawn strikes diagonally from one square away and there is nowhere left to run. The sign: the squares around the king are covered or occupied, and your pawn stands one step from striking distance. Never write pawns out of your attack — their blows are the cheapest and therefore the most humiliating.

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·53)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to c1 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f2 (e2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·16)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3 (e2·12)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to e1 (h4·3)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (e4·6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to h2 (h1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (b3·13)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: rook to d3Shuffle Rating 1297Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: rook to c8 (c1·3)Shuffle Rating 1314Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (d3·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to d4 (g7)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (b4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (a7)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (a8)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a7 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to f6 (h4·3)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Discovered attack: queen to e1 (e2)Shuffle Rating 1162Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to d7 (c7·3)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to f8 (a8·3)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f7 (e6·2)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g3·4)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to g7 (c3·3)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 2: queen to b1 (f1)Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b1 (c1·12)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 1: queen to h5 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1334Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c4·3)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (d1·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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