Day 429: Ladder mate
Target rating: 1156
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: knight to f6 (g4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to c3 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (f5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to f2 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (c5·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b1 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to f6 (h5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to b4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to b6 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to f1 (g1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: bishop to h5 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e1·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to a7 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c7 (e5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to a8 (a7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (h5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to a7 (a3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to c6 (b4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (d5·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to e3 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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