Day 768: Mate in 1
Target rating: 1638
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 3: rook to a2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to h7 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: rook to a8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: knight to c7 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (b8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: bishop to b4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: pawn to b8 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to g3 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: pin on g1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: pin on h7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: pin on h7 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: knight to e5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: knight to h6 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to d6 (b4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to g7 (f7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (e4·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to g7 (h6·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f1·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to d6 (a3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to e6 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: bishop to f7 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to h6 (f5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 769 →