Day 331: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 1032
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: rook to c4 (c1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to g5 (h4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (a5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b2 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (f5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to b4 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c6 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to b2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: deflection on f2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Back-rank mate in 3 on f7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Back-rank mate in 3 on f2 (f5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Back-rank mate in 3 on a8 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Back-rank mate in 3 on d1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (e2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to h1 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to f4 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to h5 (h4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to a6 (a5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to g7 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to a1 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to g4 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 332 →