Day 696: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 1496
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: knight to b7 (a5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to b4 (c3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to a5 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to g4 (f3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to e4 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to d4 (c3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to f5 (f1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to a8 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to h7 (h6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (b7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (d4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a8 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (h4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (h6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (e2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (f3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to g7 (g5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to e1 (f1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to e6 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to c5 (e4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c5·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: rook to c6 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to c6 (b7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 697 →