Day 387: Mate in 1
Target rating: 1105
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. Winning blow: knight to c5 (e6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (f3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e6 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (a6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d2 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to h8 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to e4 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to f8 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to d4 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to f6 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to d7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to b6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to c3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: knight to h3 (g5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to g1 (e3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to f4 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to f3 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to g3 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a1 (b1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h1 (g1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to b4 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c1 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (f2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 388 →