Day 64: Mate in 1
Target rating: 684
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 c6 (b5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f4 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (f3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f1 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to f5 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (h5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: knight to g4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to f8 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to g8 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: knight to f7 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (d5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to a4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (c3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to d2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (c5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to a8 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c3 (b2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d8 (b6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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