Day 42: 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 Only move

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (c6)Shuffle Rating 850 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (f3·2)Shuffle Rating 850 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Back-rank mate in 2 on e2 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 855 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (e3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

5. Mate in 1: queen to c7Shuffle Rating 850 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Back-rank mate in 2 on d8 (d7)Shuffle Rating 856 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (a1)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (f2·2)Shuffle Rating 850 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

9. Back-rank mate in 2 on b1 (a1)Shuffle Rating 860 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (h7·2)Shuffle Rating 850 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (a8)Shuffle Rating 850 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

13. Mate in 1: queen to b7 (a8)Shuffle Rating 850 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (f1·2)Shuffle Rating 850 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (d4)Shuffle Rating 850 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

16. Mate in 2: queen to e1 (b4)Shuffle Rating 860 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (b5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

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

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (c1·7)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (b5·8)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

22. Winning blow: bishop to c4Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (e4·5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a5Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b8 (f4·8)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

27. Mate in 1: knight to f7 (e5·2)Shuffle Rating 869 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

28. Winning blow: queen to f5 (g6)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (a2·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

30. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4 (d1)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!