Day 42: Mate in 1
Target rating: 600
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 d7 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Back-rank mate in 2 on e2 (f4·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 1: queen to c7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Back-rank mate in 2 on d8 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Back-rank mate in 2 on b1 (a1)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (h7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to b7 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to e1 (b4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (c1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (b5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to c4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (e4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 43 →