Day 40: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 662
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. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (c2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 2: rook to d1 (d8·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (h6·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
4. Back-rank mate in 2 on e1 (h4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 1: pin on d8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: queen to g4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Back-rank mate in 1 on c8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 1: queen to g1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Back-rank mate in 2 on e8 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to d2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 1: rook to d8 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Back-rank mate in 3 on f2 (b6·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Back-rank mate in 2 on e2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f8 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d7 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·97)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 1: queen to c2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (a1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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