Day 171: Mate in 1
Target rating: 824
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: rook to c6 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a5 (b3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h1 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a3 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h1 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·47)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to h8 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c4 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g2 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to a8 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (g7·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to b5 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to e8 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 1: knight to g6 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·54)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (f2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (f7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to b1 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a6 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to h6 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 172 →