Day 226: Mate in 1
Target rating: 896
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 c2 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b7 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a4 (c3·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·33)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·74)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h2 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f3 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to f7 (h5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to a4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to g8 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (f4·6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to h5 (e2·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (c5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (h6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Fork: knight to f6 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to b5 (a4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e6 (f5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Fork: rook to d5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Skewer: rook to h6 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 227 →