Day 214: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 876
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 h1 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a5 (b3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to g5 (h4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a5 (b4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (f1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (f2·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g5 (f3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e3 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (e5·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (b7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·89)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c7 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to b8 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: knight to e5 (c6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (d4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
26. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h8 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (h7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 215 →