Day 310: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 998
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 c4 (d3·29)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (a1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f4 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (a3·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to f5 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to f1 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f6 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g3 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f1 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: knight to e7 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: bishop to c6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b8 (b3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h5 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f4 (d3·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to a4 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to d2 (d1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Pin: rook to a8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b8 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to h6 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (c3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 311 →