Day 570: Ladder mate
Target rating: 1334
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: queen to b2 (a3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to g8 (g6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to a4 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to e8 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to g6 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to f7 (g7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to d7 (h7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to a8 (c6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (d5·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to e8 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: rook to b7 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: rook to f7 (f8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: rook to e7 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: rook to h7 (g7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (h7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to a5 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Castling-960 to the rescue on h1 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to b4 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Castling-960 to the rescue on h1 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to b6 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (c1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Castling-960 to the rescue on h1 (e1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (c2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 571 →