Day 548: Ladder mate
Target rating: 1304
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. Winning blow: rook to b1 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to f5 (e3·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to c1 (a1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (d4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (h5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to d5 (c3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to a7 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h4 (f2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to g2 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (a8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to a6 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to b6 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Castling-960 to the rescue on a1 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to g5 (f3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Castling-960 to the rescue on a1 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to b5 (c4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Castling-960 to the rescue on f1 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to c2 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Castling-960 to the rescue on d1 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (h7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Castling-960 to the rescue on a8 (b8·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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