Day 649: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 1432
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 e7 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to g7 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to g1 (f2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g6 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (f3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to g5 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (g7·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (h7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (a1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b8 (b3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (g8·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to g7 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b7 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (g7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to h5 (h4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h7 (d3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to a3 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (a1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to f8 (e8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to d4 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 650 →