Day 355: Ladder mate
Target rating: 1054
Lesson of the day
The ladder mate uses two heavy pieces climbing rung by rung: one cuts the king off along a line, the other checks on the next line, driving him toward the edge. It is the classic two-rook technique — check, the king retreats one rank, the other rook checks, until mate on the last rank. The only danger is the king creeping close enough to attack one of your rooks. If it does, simply slide that rook to the far side of the same line.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g8 (g1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to g3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to c6 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: pawn to b8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to d4 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to f7 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: deflection on g6 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: rook to h3 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: pawn to b3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: fork on d1 (d8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to h5 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: pawn to g7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: rook to f1 (d1)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: queen to g5 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: knight to d3 (b4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (g4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Fork: knight to e7 (c6·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to b6 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 356 →