Day 30: Mate in 1
Target rating: 646
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. Fork: knight to e3 (c4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (h1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Fork: knight to e7 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d7 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Fork: knight to f6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (d3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: bishop to e6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to h8 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: rook to b1 (b2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: rook to h8 (c8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (a1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: knight to f3 (g5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to g5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (a1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (d5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: knight to c4 (b2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 31 →