Day 657: Mate in 1
Target rating: 1441
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: queen to d4 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (e5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 2: knight to d6 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a6 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to d4 (a7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: rook to c7 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to f3 (f1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to b4 (b2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: rook to b7 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (g3·4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: knight to e3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (g6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: knight to c7 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (g3·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to d6 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g3 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: discovered attack on a5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (e3·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c2 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Deflection: pawn to f2 (e3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 658 →