Day 80: Mate in 1
Target rating: 710
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: king to b2 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (g2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to f1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·38)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a5 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (e3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (b5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to a8 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (h6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: bishop to f3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: knight to h7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: rook to f1 (f8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h2 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e3 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h5 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a6 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to g5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 81 →