Day 184: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 844
Lesson of the day
The back-rank mate strikes a king locked behind its own unmoved pawns when a rook or queen crashes onto the last rank. The signs: no escape hole in front of the king, and the back rank guarded by a single piece or by nobody at all. Often that lone guard is deflected or traded off first, and only then comes the invasion. In your own games, make luft in time — one pawn move prevents a sudden catastrophe.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (b4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to g5 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (a5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to c2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d4 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h6 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: queen to a8 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Back-rank mate in 3 on f2 (a2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Back-rank mate in 3 on a8 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (c1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (h7·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to d1 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e2 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to b4 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to g7 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c3 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to a8 (a7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (g7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to e2 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 185 →