Day 127: Mate in 1
Target rating: 769
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: pawn to b5 (a4·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4 (d3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to f8 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·87)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (f3·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to a8 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·42)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (b4·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: rook to e8 (e1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: rook to d1 (d8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: bishop to a6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to h1 (h2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: rook to h3 (d3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·45)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to a1 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (f5·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a4 (a1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (c5·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·89)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·90)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 128 →