Day 191: Ladder mate
Target rating: 856
Lesson of the day
The ladder mate uses two heavy pieces climbing rung by rung: one cuts the king off along a line, the other checks on the next line, driving him toward the edge. It is the classic two-rook technique — check, the king retreats one rank, the other rook checks, until mate on the last rank. The only danger is the king creeping close enough to attack one of your rooks. If it does, simply slide that rook to the far side of the same line.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (a1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·32)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (c3·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d3 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a4 (c3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (f5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (g4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (d2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (d4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: rook to f8 (a8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: rook to f8 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g5 (c1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to g3 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to f2 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a1 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: knight to g5 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (c7·4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to b5 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (a1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (f3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 192 →