Day 24: Mate in 1
Target rating: 636
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. Mate in 2: queen to d1 (g4·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c7 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (d5·30)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 1: bishop to c6Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 1: rook to d8 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a4 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: knight to g3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (e4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: knight to c2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: rook to h8 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: rook to f5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (g3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e8 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 1: rook to h7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (d4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (b1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 25 →