Day 453: Mate in 1
Target rating: 1179
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: bishop to e2 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to c1 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to f1 (g1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to b1 (a2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to d2 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to f1 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to g3 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to g2 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: pawn to e7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: rook to h8 (b8·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: rook to g2 (e2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to c5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to b3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to a2 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to e1 (a1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (g5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f3 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to f8 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d2 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to g3 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: knight to d7 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to f8 (f7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 454 →