Day 41: Mate in 1
Target rating: 664
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 1: queen to g2 (f2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: pawn to g3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (g3·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
4. Back-rank mate in 2 on c1 (c8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Back-rank mate in 2 on f2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Back-rank mate in 2 on e2 (f4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Back-rank mate in 1 on d1 (d2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (g8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to f7 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h7 (h5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (c3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (b2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (c1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g7 (h6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to h2 (d6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
26. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (b1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d3 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d5 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 42 →