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Day 218: Mate in 1

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. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·7)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c2 (c1·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (h1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to f8Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a3 (b1·5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (e3·25)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (f2·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a4 (b3·10)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: king to g2 (f1·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·19)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (h6·7)Shuffle Rating 1037Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to d2Shuffle Rating 1041Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to h4 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1041Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to a1 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1042Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to c1Shuffle Rating 1046Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to e2 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to d2 (c2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d1·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: king to c2 (b1)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to e3 (e6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to b8 (b1·6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to f4 (f7)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g1 (h1)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f6 (b6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (b1·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: pawn to c8 (c7)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: rook to e8 (c8)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: queen to f3 (e3·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d1·6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·23)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 219 →