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Chess960 puzzles: Mate defense

Mate is threatened — parry it and stay on top.

Mate defense: your opponent is one move from mating you — but it is your turn, and that changes everything. Find the defense that kills the mating threat while keeping your advantage: often a check or a counter-threat that leaves no time for the mate. First name the exact square where the mate would land — otherwise you are defending blind. The mistake is playing a "defensive" move that does not actually remove the threat.

652 puzzles

Mate in 1: rook to e8 (e4)
Shuffle Rating 698
Mate in 1: queen to g2 (c6·4)
Shuffle Rating 712
Mate in 2: rook to c1 (c7)
Shuffle Rating 733
Mate in 1: queen to e1 (e5)
Shuffle Rating 750
Winning blow: bishop to d4
Shuffle Rating 780
Winning blow: bishop to g6
Shuffle Rating 780
Winning blow: rook to d1
Shuffle Rating 780
Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c3 (b2)
Shuffle Rating 780
Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4
Shuffle Rating 780
Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d5
Shuffle Rating 780
Winning blow: pawn to g3 (f2)
Shuffle Rating 780
Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h4
Shuffle Rating 780
Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h4 (f3·2)
Shuffle Rating 780
Attack on the uncastled king: king to g2
Shuffle Rating 780
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (a1)
Shuffle Rating 780
Winning blow: pawn to c3 (b2·4)
Shuffle Rating 780
Winning blow: knight to d4
Shuffle Rating 780
Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f1·3)
Shuffle Rating 780
Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (e3·9)
Shuffle Rating 780
Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a8
Shuffle Rating 780
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a4
Shuffle Rating 780
Winning blow: pawn to c3 (d2)
Shuffle Rating 780
Attack on the uncastled king: king to g2 (f1)
Shuffle Rating 780
Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (b1·2)
Shuffle Rating 780

Defence