Can you deliver mate – reliably?

by Frederic Friedel
6/14/2026 – Take a look at this position. The black king is completely trapped and will soon be mated, but can White do it in just three moves? Try and work it out in your mind. Spoiler: it begins with an absurd-looking move. Test your skills on this and on three more tricky mating positions. In each case the diagrams will defend and refute any bad moves you play. Solutions to the problems, with full video explanations, will come in a week. Learn and enjoy.
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In the following positions you can, as usual, move the pieces. But there is no analysis engine to switch on – one that would simply solve the studies. You are all on your own. You can click on the notation button below the diagram to follow your analysis.

P1: Can you deliver mate?

White has all the pieces lined up around the king to deliver mate. But the things that spring to mind don't seem to work. Can you figure out what must be done to reach the goal?

P2: Can you deliver mate in three?

Naturally White can win very easily, and even mate very quickly. But can he do it in just three moves? Please just look at the diagram and try to solve it in your mind. Or at least try to guess: which is the most unlikely move to fulfill the task? And then execute it without hesitation on the board.

P3: Can you deliver mate in three?

How can you trap the rook, which is essential if you are to win the game. Can this be done with the material on the board? Yes it can – think of the power of knight forks!

P4: Can you deliver mate in three?

It is clear which checks you want to start with – try to find the only continuation that gets you a clean victory. Here the diagram engine is switched off, so you have to work everything out yourself. Note that if you fail to win quickly, the superior black forces will prevail. 

Please do not post any solutions in the feedback below – just comments on how easy or hard you found the studies. Full video solutions will be provided in a week.

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Video

60m English New ideas in the Najdorf_E

‘New ideas in the Najdorf – a Power Play 18 Update’ aims to complement Daniel King’s popular DVD from last year ‘The Sicilian Najdorf - a repertoire for Black’. Such a dynamic and popular opening as the Najdorf is developing the whole time. On this download, Daniel King updates lines that were included on his DVD but also responds to viewers’ requests, considering lines that he omitted from his original repertoire. The lines examined on this update are: • 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 h3 e5 7 Nde2 • 5….a6 6 Bc4 in combination with the English Attack (Be3, f3 etc) • 5…a6 6 Be3 and the …a5 variation • 5…a6 6 Be2 and 9 Re1 • 5 f3 (instead of 5 Nc3) It isn’t necessary to have seen the original Najdorf DVD to understand the lines examined here – but it would help as they form part of a complete repertoire.

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Keith Homeyard Keith Homeyard 1 hour ago
Easy enough but pretty! I doubt many players would have looked for P2 over the board though most players on relaxing and on autopilot at that stage.
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