Day 593: Ladder mate
Target rating: 1368
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: knight to c6 (a5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to g6 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to c5 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to f5 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to d4 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to g5 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to c5 (e6·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f5 (c2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e1·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to e6 (d4·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: rook to f6 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (h8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to a8 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to c6 (b8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a7 (a5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to f6 (d4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to a6 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to a7 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to c6 (b5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (e4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b7 (b3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to e5 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Trap the bishop on g5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 594 →