Day 45: 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. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: pawn to f4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c7 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (b3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to b7 (b1)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (f2·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (c7·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g1 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to f8 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (b1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (b2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 46 →