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Day 912: 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 c5 (a3)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (f3·3)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: bishop to g7 (f8)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to e5 (c7·2)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to d4 (g7)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: bishop to h7 (c2)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to c4 (c3·5)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (a8)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to b3 (c2·13)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (b4·14)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: knight to g4 (f2·5)Shuffle Rating 2010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to h3 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 2026Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: double attack on f2Shuffle Rating 2053Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: bishop to h7 (d3)Shuffle Rating 2054Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to d2 (f4)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: pawn to g5Shuffle Rating 2006Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to f2 (f6·3)Shuffle Rating 2005Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: knight to b8 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1926Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Win the hanging knight on f3Shuffle Rating 1926Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: king to c3 (d3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to g5 (h6)Shuffle Rating 1927Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Pin: rook to d5 (d8)Shuffle Rating 1927Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to f6 (e4·30)Shuffle Rating 2010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to c5 (e3·4)Shuffle Rating 2010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e1·23)Shuffle Rating 2010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Chess960 tactic on b1Shuffle Rating 2120Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 3: bishop to b5 (a6)Shuffle Rating 2170Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Chess960 tactic on e6 (d5·2)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (e8·3)Shuffle Rating 2120Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
30. Fork: queen to e3 (g3)Shuffle Rating 2111Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 913 →