Day 81: Mate in 2

Target Rating 712

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.

Types of the dayMate in 2 Uncastled king Winning blow

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a2 (a1·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·37)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (h4·9)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

4. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a7Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h6 (g5·6)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d7 (g4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·43)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3 (e2·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (h4·10)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a5 (e1·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: rook to h6 (h4)Shuffle Rating 900 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

12. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (h5·2)Shuffle Rating 902 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

13. Mate in 2: rook to e7Shuffle Rating 906 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

14. Mate in 2: queen to d1 (f3)Shuffle Rating 917 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

15. Mate in 2: queen to h6 (h1)Shuffle Rating 918 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (f5·8)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g4 (f2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·44)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (e2·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·15)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (h3·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (c5·15)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g8 (c4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (b3·5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b4 (g4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c7 (d6·5)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

27. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (h6·5)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

28. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e5 (e1·2)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: rook to h6 (e6)Shuffle Rating 899 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

30. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (c3·5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!