Day 615: Mate in 1
Target rating: 1390
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: pawn to h3 (g2·55)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to g3 (h3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to d2 (d1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f2 (e1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4 (f3·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (a1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to c3 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to d1 (c1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to b4 (e7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: rook to b6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to d4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (h6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (h6·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Castling-960 to the rescue on e1 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Castling-960 to the rescue on b1 (c1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Castling-960 to the rescue on f1 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Castling-960 to the rescue on a8 (d8·6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Castling-960 to the rescue on c8 (g8·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Castling-960 to the rescue on f1 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Castling-960 to the rescue on h1 (f1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Castling-960 to the rescue on a8 (d8·7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Castling-960 to the rescue on e1 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Castling-960 to the rescue on h8 (g8·4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 616 →