Day 21: Mate in 1
Target rating: 600
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: bishop to f6 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f8 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Skewer: rook to g7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to c8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b8 (a7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: rook to h1 (f1)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: bishop to f6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (d6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (c2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to f8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Skewer: rook to c8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g6 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b8 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·58)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g3 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to d8 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Skewer: rook to c8 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 1: queen to b2 (b5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 22 →