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Day 585: Knight mate

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: rook to c6 (c1·6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to d6 (e4·7)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to b8 (b7·6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (b8·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to b3 (b2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·58)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to e6 (g6·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f1·7)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·20)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g6 (c2·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: queen to h5 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: pawn to a8Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (a8·4)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to h5 (g4)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f1·13)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: bishop to b4 (c3)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (c6·3)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: bishop to e3 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (b7·5)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: knight to a5Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (e7)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: knight to d6 (b5·2)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to h1 (b1)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e2·4)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to c6 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: rook to c6 (c5·3)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 3: knight to c5 (e6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 1: queen to h4 (f6)Shuffle Rating 1682Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: pawn to d4 (e3·9)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to h8 (e5·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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