Day 15: Mate in 1
Target rating: 622
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 h7 (g5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (g5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (a5·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (a5·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (c5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 1: queen to f7 (b3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (c6·4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: queen to e8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (h4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to e8 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: rook to b1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: rook to f7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: knight to f2 (e4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (d5·4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to e1 (e3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to e1 (e7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 1: rook to h7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to d8 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to h4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (b8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to b8 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: rook to b8 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 16 →