Day 12: Mate in 1
Target rating: 617
Lesson of the day
Mate in one: the combination is over, only the final precise shot remains. The method is simple — list every check you have and test the three escapes against each: king moves, blocks, and capturing the checker. If none of them works, it is mate. The classic blunder is falling in love with the first check you see and missing the one escape hatch.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 1: rook to h1 (h5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (h4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Back-rank mate in 2 on a8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (c7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 1: queen to h5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Back-rank mate in 2 on d8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: rook to e1 (a1)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: rook to e8 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: rook to e3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to f8 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: rook to e8 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (a5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (h4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to d1 (g4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (e4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h7 (g5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Back-rank mate in 2 on e8 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Back-rank mate in 1 on a8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 13 →