Day 363: Mate in 1
Target rating: 1067
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 c4 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to b2 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to c6 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c6 (h1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to d7 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to d6 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to c6 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h4 (e1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to f7 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (e4·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to b8 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to f5 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: rook to h6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to f7 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Pin: pawn to e2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Pin: knight to e3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: bishop to b5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: knight to b6 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g6 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (h3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: bishop to g6 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 364 →