Day 193: Mate in 1
Target rating: 856
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. Winning blow: knight to e4 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b8 (a7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·31)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·34)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b3 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (h4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g5 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to g1 (g4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (f4·5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (a2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: rook to g7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to d6 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (d4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·106)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to f7 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·54)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (f5·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to h8 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 194 →