Day 437: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 1169
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: queen to d4 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to g5 (h3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to d4 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to a7 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to e7 (f5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to e6 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to d8 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: pin on f6 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to a7 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to c1 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to c4 (b3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to b6 (b5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f1 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to e4 (c3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to a7 (a6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to c4 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to d4 (e3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to h8 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 438 →