Day 412: Mate in 1
Target rating: 1129
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 b6 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d3 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·34)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c1 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to b2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to g5 (h3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to b5 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to e1 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h1 (g1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (h2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to c7 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: rook to h1 (h2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: rook to g3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: knight to c2 (a3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to d2 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to h5 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to f3 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to d1 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b5 (d4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to f7 (d5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (g1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to f5 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to c1 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 413 →