Day 218: Mate in 1
Target rating: 883
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 d8 (d1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c2 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to f8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a3 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (e3·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a4 (b3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: king to g2 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (h6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to d2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to h4 (g5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to a1 (e5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to c1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to e2 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to d2 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: king to c2 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to e3 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to b8 (b1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to f4 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g1 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f6 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (b1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 219 →