What does mate in 1 mean in shogi?

It means one move by the attacker ends the game: after your move the defending king is in check with no legal escape, block, or capture. In these puzzles Black always moves first, and the single correct move must give checkmate immediately.

How do I enter my move on the puzzle board?

Tap a piece and then its destination square, or drag it there. Pieces in hand sit beside the board and drop the same way. A correct move solves the puzzle and reveals the explanation; a wrong one shakes the board and resets so you can try again.

My move gives check. Why is it marked wrong?

A check that lets the king escape is not mate, so the solver rejects it. A few positions also allow more than one genuine mate; the solver accepts only the stated main line, so if your alternative mates too, you have found the pattern, but play the main line to finish.

Tsume Shogi Puzzle 1: Mate in 1

Mate in 1 Theme: Gold drop on the head

Black to move and mate in 1. Black has a gold in hand. Every attacking move must give check, and the defender always plays the toughest reply. Find the one move that leaves the king no answer.

Solve it on the board above and the explanation appears automatically. If you are stuck, the Show solution button plays the line through, or open the spoiler below.

Reveal the solution

Black: G*5b (G*5b)

Drop the gold directly in front of the king. The pawn on 5c protects the gold, and the gold covers every escape square.

Keep practicing

Puzzle 1 of the mate-in-3 set raises the difficulty.
All 20 puzzles in one place.
New to checkmate problems? The tsume shogi guide explains the rules and conventions.

FAQ

What does mate in 1 mean in shogi?
It means one move by the attacker ends the game: after your move the defending king is in check with no legal escape, block, or capture. In these puzzles Black always moves first, and the single correct move must give checkmate immediately.
How do I enter my move on the puzzle board?
Tap a piece and then its destination square, or drag it there. Pieces in hand sit beside the board and drop the same way. A correct move solves the puzzle and reveals the explanation; a wrong one shakes the board and resets so you can try again.
My move gives check. Why is it marked wrong?
A check that lets the king escape is not mate, so the solver rejects it. A few positions also allow more than one genuine mate; the solver accepts only the stated main line, so if your alternative mates too, you have found the pattern, but play the main line to finish.