Day 258: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 931
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: pawn to e5 (d4·77)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h1 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a2 (a1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·73)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4 (b3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (a1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: bishop to f7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to g8 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (g8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g8 (g1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: knight to e6 (c5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to e2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to f6 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: king to g1 (f2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: king to c1 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to f7 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to c4 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to c2 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 259 →