Day 342: Mate in 1
Target rating: 1048
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: queen to a4 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (f2·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (e3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: king to g2 (g1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to g5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (g2·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c7 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to f1 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (b4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to d5 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: rook to a5 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (h3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: rook to a3 (a8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: knight to e2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (g6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a3 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to d4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (e3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (c3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: knight to e7 (c6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f1·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: bishop to a5 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 343 →