Day 142: Mate in 1

Target Rating 792

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.

Types of the dayMate in 1 Uncastled king Winning blow

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·95)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·104)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (c5·11)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·52)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h2 (g3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (f1·12)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h5 (h1·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (f2·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b3 (d1)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·106)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 1: knight to e7 (f5)Shuffle Rating 961 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

12. Mate in 1: queen to f2 (f4)Shuffle Rating 962 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

13. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (d6·6)Shuffle Rating 962 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

14. Mate in 1: queen to b4Shuffle Rating 966 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

15. Mate in 1: rook to d8 (d7)Shuffle Rating 968 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3·14)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

17. Winning blow: knight to d7 (f6)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (b1·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·101)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Winning blow: king to g1Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (g2·24)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (g3·6)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·81)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (c5·20)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 1: knight to f2 (h3·5)Shuffle Rating 967 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

27. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (g7·5)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

28. Mate in 2: knight to f6 (h5)Shuffle Rating 1090 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (h5·2)Shuffle Rating 958 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

30. Mate in 2: queen to a1 (f6)Shuffle Rating 986 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!