Every puzzle has a move that mates at once. Look at the checks — checkmate always starts with a check. Make your move on the board: the program will tell you whether it is right. Every solution has been verified by a computer.
1
White to move. Mate in 1
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1. Ra8# — back-rank mate: the king is hemmed in by its own pawns.
2
White to move. Mate in 1
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1. Qc8# — the king on b6 covers a7 and b7, and the queen on c8 sweeps the whole eighth rank, including b8.
3
White to move. Mate in 1
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1. Rh3# — Anastasia's mate: the knight on e7 covers g8 and g6, and the rook gives check along the h-file.
4
White to move. Mate in 1
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1. Rg8# — the Arabian mate: the rook is protected by the knight, and the knight on f6 also covers h7.
5
White to move. Mate in 1
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1. Qxg7# — the queen takes the pawn, protected by the bishop on b2 — the king has nowhere to go.
6
White to move. Mate in 1
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1. Qg7# — the queen steps right next to the king, and nothing can take it: g7 is protected by the knight on f5.
7
White to move. Mate in 1
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1. Nf7# — smothered mate: the king is surrounded by its own pieces.
8
White to move. Mate in 1
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1. Bc6# — mate with two bishops: one gives check, the other covers b8.
9
White to move. Mate in 1
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1. Bb2# — the bishop comes out onto the long diagonal while the rook holds the g-file. This is Morphy's mate.
10
Black to move. Mate in 1
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1… Qb1# — the white king is locked in by its own pawns — back-rank mate. Qd1# mates as well.
Managed them all? Move on to harder puzzles: “Mate in 2”.