Day 401: Ladder mate
Target rating: 1112
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. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to f5 (h4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (d5·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (c5·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (c5·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to g3 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to f7 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to c5 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 1: rook to e4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to h3 (g3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: knight to e7 (d5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: knight to e6 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to e8 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a1 (b1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: king to g2 (f2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a4 (d1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to e3 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to h7 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (c3·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to d3 (h3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to h1 (g1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to g5 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 402 →