Step by Step: Mate #67

Step by Step: Mate #67

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 White to Mate

[FEN “3rkr2/1R2bpp1/p1q1p3/4P3/4N3/P4Q1P/5PP1/3R2K1 w – – 0 29”]

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White mates in one

[FEN “4kr2/1R1rbp2/p1Q1pp2/4P3/8/P6P/5PP1/3R2K1 w – – 0 31”]

1)__________           __________

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White mates in two

[FEN “3rkr2/1R2bp2/p1q1pp2/4P3/8/P4Q1P/5PP1/3R2K1 w – – 0 30”]

1)__________           __________

2)__________           __________

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White mates in three

[FEN “3rkr2/1R2bpp1/p1q1p3/4P3/4N3/P4Q1P/5PP1/3R2K1 w – – 0 29”]

1)__________           __________

2)__________           __________

3)__________           __________

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Khalifman,Alexander (2615) – Burmakin,Vladimir (2530)
RUS-chT St Petersburg (3), 18.05.1999
Caro-Kann Advance [B12]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.a3 Bg4 6.Nbd2 Nd7 7.Be2 Ne7 8.0-0 Nc8 9.h3 Bh5 10.b3 c5 11.c4 dxc4 12.Nxc4 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Bxe2 14.Qxe2 Ncb6 15.Rd1 Nxc4 16.Qxc4 a6 17.Nf3 Qc8 18.Qd4 Qc6 19.Be3 Nc5 20.Bg5 Qd7 21.Qe3 Qb5 22.b4 h6 23.bxc5 hxg5 24.Nxg5 Bxc5 25.Qf3 Rf8 26.Ne4 Be7 27.Rab1 Qc6 28.Rxb7 Rd8 29.Nf6+! 1-0 [29…gxf6 (or 29…Bxf6) 30.Qxc6+ Rd7 31.Qxd7#]

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A PDF file of this week’s Step by Step puzzle, along with all previous puzzles, is available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.

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