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Day 248: 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: pawn to d3 (c2·12)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (f3·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a8 (b8)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a5 (d2·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (c2·12)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g5 (c1·8)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g2 (h1·7)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4 (d1·5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (a5·22)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to e3 (f5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 1: knight to f7 (e5·3)Shuffle Rating 1065Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: knight to g6 (h4)Shuffle Rating 1067Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: rook to a8 (a7)Shuffle Rating 1074Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to f7 (h5·5)Shuffle Rating 1076Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (h5·3)Shuffle Rating 1076Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c3 (b2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: king to a2 (a1·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to b6Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: king to d2 (d1·3)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to f8 (e6·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to f1 (f7)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (e1·12)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to f4 (f2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to h7Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f1·3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (g1·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 2: knight to g6 (e7)Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: king to a2 (b1·3)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b5 (e2·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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