Day 672: Ladder mate
Target rating: 1315
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 d7 (h3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to a2 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to g6 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (d1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to d7 (b5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to c2 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to d3 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to d3 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e1·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to f8 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to e1 (f1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to f7 (e6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to b1 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to e7 (d6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (f3·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: bishop to a6 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to f7 (d5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·32)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (f4·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to c3 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 673 →