Day 269: Mate in 1
Target rating: 948
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 b4 (e1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to g4 (h3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·41)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c2 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h4 (f3·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g1 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (f1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to e7 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: rook to h4 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to f1 (b1)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (h4·4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to b7 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to f3 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d7 (b5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: king to e2 (d1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to c6 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (a8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: king to g1 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to h3 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: king to f2 (e1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 270 →