Day 682: Mate in 1
Target rating: 1481
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 c8 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to e4 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to d5 (c3·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c4 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to d8 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to d7 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to f6 (h8·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to c6 (d4·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to f4 (f8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: rook to h7 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: rook to h1 (h2·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (c2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to d4 (a1)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e7 (a3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to c5 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to e5 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b3 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to d1 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to f6 (h7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to d5 (f4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to g6 (e5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to g6 (f4·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to f5 (d4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 683 →