Mixed practice is lesson 9 of 9 in Mating patterns I, a checkmate course suited to players rated around 700 (beginners). All the ideas of this course, mixed: find the winning move without knowing the motif. It has 5 interactive exercises: 5 calculated lines from real positions. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.
What you practise
White to move: mate in 2. (2 positions)
Black to move: mate in 2. (2 positions)
White to move: mate in 4.
Worked examples
White to move: mate in 2. 1.Qd8+ Ne8 2.Nh7#. The knight mated on h7: the king was smothered by its own pieces. Mate in 2.
White to move: mate in 2. 1.Rxe6+ fxe6 2.Qxe6#. Epaulette mate: the queen mated on e6, and the king's own pieces on both sides took away its escape. Mate in 2.
chessGM