Day 547: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 1304
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 g8 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c1 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to g4 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to e5 (c4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to d4 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to g3 (h3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to f7 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to g5 (h3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Back-rank mate in 3 on f2 (f7·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: pin on e8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Back-rank mate in 2 on c8 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Back-rank mate in 3 on f2 (b2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to a7 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Castling-960 to the rescue on g1 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Castling-960 to the rescue on e1 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Castling-960 to the rescue on a1 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Castling-960 to the rescue on h1 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Castling-960 to the rescue on h8 (g8·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Castling-960 to the rescue on b8 (c8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Castling-960 to the rescue on b8 (f8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Castling-960 to the rescue on g8 (f8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Castling-960 to the rescue on h1 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Castling-960 to the rescue on a1 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 548 →