Day 628: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 1411
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: rook to f7 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c5·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (a6·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to g7 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (h1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to d8 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c3 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Back-rank mate in 2 on d2 (f3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: pin on b5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: pin on g2 (d2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a8 (a1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (f5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Deflection: bishop to c4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: bishop to c3 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: pawn to c8 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to d5 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to h5 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to g3 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (b8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to g3 (h3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: king to g1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: rook to h7 (g7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 629 →