Day 697: Ladder mate
Target rating: 1496
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: knight to e6 (d4·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to g5 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to f5 (d4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to f6 (f1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to b7 (h1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to g7 (g6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to b8 (b4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to f5 (e7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (a2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (e4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b5 (f1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to h6 (g5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to d7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: rook to d8 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: bishop to e8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (f5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (b6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to d4 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (a6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: rook to d7 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 698 →