Day 592: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 1368
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 c8 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to f4 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to f6 (f5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g7 (h6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to f8 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d5 (a2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to e8 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to c6 (b4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (d3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (f4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (h4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (f5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to d5 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to e7 (d7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: rook to b7 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: pawn to b8 (b7·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to c6 (a5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to b6 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to f6 (b2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 593 →