Day 142: Mate in 1
Target rating: 792
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 e5 (d4·95)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·104)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (c5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·52)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h2 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (f1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h5 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b3 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·106)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: knight to e7 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to f2 (f4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (d6·6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to b4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: rook to d8 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to d7 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·101)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: king to g1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (g2·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (g3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·81)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (c5·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 143 →