Day 410: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 1126
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. Winning blow: pawn to d3 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to e2 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to a6 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to d6 (e7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to e7 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (d5·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (c6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d5 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to b5 (a4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Back-rank mate in 2 on f8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Back-rank mate in 2 on e1 (a5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Back-rank mate in 2 on e8 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Back-rank mate in 3 on f2 (f6·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (h5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (h5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c3 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d7 (a4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g2 (g1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to f6 (e4·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to f7 (h5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to g5 (c1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to a7 (c5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 411 →