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Day 726: Mate in 2

Lesson of the day

Mate in two: your move, any reply, then the mating blow. Start with the most forcing first moves — checks and sacrifices that shrink the opponent's options to almost nothing. Against every single reply you must have a mate ready, so check them all without exception. The common failure is analyzing the pretty defense and forgetting the boring one.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e7·9)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c5)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to f6 (h6·4)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b1·12)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e2·5)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d5·5)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (d5·3)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to b5 (d5·3)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d5·12)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to g8 (d8)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: pawn to g6 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: knight to d6 (c8)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: bishop to f3 (d1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to d5 (d1·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to b2 (a2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (f8·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to d8 (d1·5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (e1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a5 (c3·9)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: king to b2Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: pawn to g5 (g4·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: pawn to h7Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (d4·6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (a5·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Win the hanging king on d6 (c7)Shuffle Rating 1636Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 1: rook to g7 (h7)Shuffle Rating 1765Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 1: double attack on c4Shuffle Rating 1798Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (e6·3)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Skewer: queen to h4Shuffle Rating 1704Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to c6 (b5·9)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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