Day 27: Mate in 1
Target rating: 641
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: rook to h1 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to b8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d7 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (e5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: knight to f4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b6 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f6 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: rook to e1 (e6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: rook to h8 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: rook to h4 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (a1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Fork: bishop to e5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to h2 (e5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to h4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Fork: knight to c3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: rook to a1 (a2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 28 →