Day 458: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 1187
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: king to h2 (g1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: king to e2 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (a8·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to e3 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to b2 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to a3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to d6 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: knight to f7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to c4 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to e5 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to a8 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to f4 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to c6 (a5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (h1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to a7 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h2 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 459 →