Day 875: Only move
Target rating: 1706
Lesson of the day
An only move is a position where everything loses except one single continuation. You cannot play "by hand" here: run through fundamentally different defenses — run away, block, trade, counterattack — and discard the ones that fail. The hallmark of these puzzles is that the obvious moves lose quickly while the solution often looks strange. First understand exactly what the threat is — then the one saving move reveals itself.
Warm-up
1. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: knight to c5 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to h7 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: rook to d7 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: bishop to e4 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: bishop to f5 (d3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: bishop to a6 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: knight to b6 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to g6 (h6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: pin on h8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to a8 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: rook to g6 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to f5 (f2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d3 (c2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: knight to f8 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to c4 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: bishop to b6 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: bishop to a4 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: knight to e6 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: rook to g7 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: bishop to e4 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: bishop to d2 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: bishop to d6 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 876 →