Day 151: 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: knight to d7 (e5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g4 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e3 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to c1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to e5 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to e1 (e4·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: rook to a8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: knight to g6 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to a2 (a3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to f7 (b3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h5 (g3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to a5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b4 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h1 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f4 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d2 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h3 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 152 →