Day 362: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 1065
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: queen to e5 (a1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to d6 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to b5 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to g5 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (h2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to e8 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f6 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (h7·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: deflection on f2 (h4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: discovered attack on f7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Back-rank mate in 3 on f2 (b6·4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Back-rank mate in 3 on b1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to e1 (e8·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (a7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to a6 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h5 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to h6 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to a7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to b5 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: bishop to c5 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 363 →