Day 237: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 913
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: king to b2 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (h2·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (a1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·72)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h1 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·37)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h1 (g1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (e5·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (h1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to g6 (h5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·108)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to b7 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Fork: knight to d2 (c4·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to d4 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (h7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to f4 (e3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to f7 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Pin: knight to f3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 238 →