Day 723: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 1551
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 d1 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to g7 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to f4 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (a1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to b4 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (d5·39)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to e7 (g5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to h7 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to e2 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to g5 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: knight to f7 (d8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: rook to g8 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to g6 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: queen to a5 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: knight to b5 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (g5·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: rook to d4 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: pawn to g4 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: rook to h1 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h3 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: rook to a1 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: knight to e5 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 724 →