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Day 848: 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. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (h4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: bishop to e5 (f6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: king to a1 (a2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to g5 (f6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: bishop to c5 (e3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (f6·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to a6 (c4·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to g4 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: bishop to d4 (f6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to d4 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: pawn to a4 (a2)Shuffle Rating 1893Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (h7·5)Shuffle Rating 1906Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: king to a3Shuffle Rating 1907Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to h3 (f5·2)Shuffle Rating 1909Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: pawn to h2Shuffle Rating 1919Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to d5 (e6·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to d8 (c7·5)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to h5 (e2·5)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b8·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to h8 (h5·5)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to c4 (d3·8)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to f3 (c3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to f8 (f6·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to e7 (f7·8)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to b5 (e5·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 3: queen to g7 (h6·3)Shuffle Rating 1990Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: pawn to b8 (b7·15)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d1·33)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: king to f3 (e2·6)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: pin on f3Shuffle Rating 1950Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 849 →