Day 21: Mate in 1

Target Rating 600

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: bishop to f6 (a1·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (b5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f8 (g7)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (h7)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

5. Skewer: rook to g7Shuffle Rating 816 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (e5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

7. Winning blow: knight to c8Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (c3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a6Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b8 (a7·4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 1: rook to h1 (f1)Shuffle Rating 767 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

12. Mate in 1: bishop to f6Shuffle Rating 771 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

13. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (d6)Shuffle Rating 771 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

14. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (c2·5)Shuffle Rating 771 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

15. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (g3)Shuffle Rating 773 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

16. Winning blow: rook to f8Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

17. Skewer: rook to c8Shuffle Rating 819 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (b7)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g6 (h4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b8 (g3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·58)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g3 (h4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

23. Winning blow: knight to d8 (b7)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

24. Skewer: rook to c8 (g8)Shuffle Rating 820 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

25. Mate in 1: queen to b2 (b5)Shuffle Rating 773 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

27. Mate in 1: pawn to a2Shuffle Rating 870 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

28. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (d3·33)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

30. Mate in 1: rook to g4Shuffle Rating 765 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!