Day 616: Ladder mate
Target rating: 1242
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 f8 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e6 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to d7 (c8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to f3 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to f4 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c7 (e7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to d5 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to h8 (h6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: rook to c7 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: rook to d7 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (h7·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to f7 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to b5 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: knight to d6 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to d4 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to h3 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to a7 (a5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to a8 (e8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 617 →