Day 6: Mate in 1
Target rating: 608
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 (g5·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (h4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: rook to a1 (a7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
8. Fork: knight to c4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 2: rook to f1 (f7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h7 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: rook to c1 (c2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Fork: knight to d2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 1: queen to d8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (g6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to d8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Fork: bishop to d5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 7 →