Day 248: Mate in 1
Target rating: 920
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: pawn to d3 (c2·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a8 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a5 (d2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (c2·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g5 (c1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g2 (h1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (a5·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to e3 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: knight to f7 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: knight to g6 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: rook to a8 (a7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to f7 (h5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (h5·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c3 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: king to a2 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to b6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: king to d2 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to f8 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to f1 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (e1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to f4 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to h7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 249 →