Step by Step: Mate #64
By Mark Donlan
Step by Step: Mate is designed to test and improve your visualization skills. The premise is simple, try solving for mate from the first diagram. For best results, set the position up on the board and think for as long as you need without moving the pieces. If you are unable to solve for mate, refer to the diagrams below in which you can solve Step by Step for mate in one, mate in two, etc. Also, be sure to subscribe to our Daily Chess Puzzle email.
You can also print out this page and use it as a workbook exercise in a classroom setting. Spaces are provided for answers to be written; occasionally there will be positions that allow for two similar moves from the defender.
Solve for Black to Mate
[FEN “4r1rk/p1N1b2p/4qpb1/1pp5/4PB1Q/3P4/PP5P/3R1R1K b – – 0 26”]
Black mates in one
[FEN “4r1rk/p1N1b2p/5p2/1pp5/4qB1Q/5R2/PP5P/3R3K b – – 0 28”]
1)__________ __________
Black mates in two
[FEN “4r1rk/p1N1b2p/4qp2/1pp5/4PB1Q/8/PP5P/3R1R1K b – – 0 27”]
1)__________ __________
2)__________ __________
Black mates in three
[FEN “4r1rk/p1N1b2p/4qpb1/1pp5/4PB1Q/3P4/PP5P/3R1R1K b – – 0 26”]
1)__________ __________
2)__________ __________
3)__________ __________
Filipovich,David (2243) – Faulks,Nick (2064)
38th Liberty Bell Open Philadelphia, PA (1), 13.01.2006
Symmetrical English [A34]
1.Nf3 c5 2.g3 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Bg2 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Nc3 Nc7 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 Be7 9.Nd2 0-0 10.Nc4 f6 11.f4 exf4 12.gxf4 Be6 13.f5 Bf7 14.Kh1 Re8 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.e4 Nb5 17.Bf4 Qd7 18.Qf3 g5 19.fxg6 Bxg6 20.Rad1 Kh8 21.Nxb5 cxb5 22.Ne3 Rf8 23.Nd5 Rae8 24.Qg3 Rg8 25.Qh4 Qe6 26.Nc7 Bxe4+ 0-1 [27.dxe4 Qxe4+ 28.Rf3 Qxf3#]
A PDF file of this week’s Step by Step puzzle, along with all previous puzzles, is available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.
© 2015 Mark Donlan & ChessEdu.org. All Rights Reserved.
I AM TRYING TO FOLLOW YOUR ANSWERS TO THE PUZZLES, BUT CAN ONLY READ ALGEBRAIC NOTATION. CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW TO DECIPHER YOUR ANSWERS, AS I AM QUITE NEW AND STRUGGLE TO SOLVE MOST O THE PUZZLES WITHOUT IT. THANKS FOR YOUR ARTICLES. IT HELPS A PLAYER LIKE ME A LOT.
Greetings, Thank you for your message. The answers are at the bottom of the page. The notation under the diagram is called a FEN string. It allows a screen reader for the visually impaired to convey the position of the pieces in the diagram.