ChessschoolMate in 1 – 10 checkmate puzzles for beginners
Solve ten mate-in-one chess puzzles. Find the move with a rook, queen, knight, bishop or pawn and check why the king cannot escape.
In brief
In mate in one, your very next move delivers checkmate. After your candidate move, check whether the king can escape, whether the attacker can be captured and whether a piece can block the check.
Find the mating move
The diagrams are shown from White’s side. Check whose turn it is each time. Point out your move on the board, then reveal the solution to compare your reasoning.
Puzzle 1 · White to move
Show the solution
Re8# · Black’s pawns close the escape squares. The rook controls the whole back rank.
Puzzle 2 · White to move
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Qg7# · The queen attacks h8 and covers g8 and h7. The white king protects the queen on g7.
Puzzle 3 · White to move
Show the solution
Ra2# · The rook checks along the a-file. The white king covers b7 and b8.
Puzzle 4 · White to move
Show the solution
Nf7# · The knight jumps to f7 and attacks h8. Black’s own pieces block every escape square.
Puzzle 5 · White to move
Show the solution
Bxg7# · The bishop captures on g7 with check. The white king covers both g7 and g8, while the black pawn on h7 blocks the last exit.
Puzzle 6 · White to move
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g7# · The pawn on g7 attacks h8. The white king covers g7 and g8. Black’s own pawn occupies h7.
Puzzle 7 · Black to move
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Rh1# · The black rook controls the first rank. The black king covers b2, c2 and d2.
Puzzle 8 · White to move
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Rf8# · The front rook goes to f8. The rook on f1 protects f8. Black’s pawns block g7 and h7.
Puzzle 9 · White to move
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Qe8# · The queen checks along the back rank. The pawns on f7, g7 and h7 keep the king boxed in.
Puzzle 10 · White to move
Show the solution
d8=R# or d8=Q# · Either a queen or a rook checks along the eighth rank. The white king covers g7 and h7.