Day 725: Ladder mate
Target rating: 1556
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 (d2·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to f6 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to e6 (d6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to d7 (f8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d8·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e1·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to c6 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: rook to h8 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: pawn to c8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: rook to e7 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to a5 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: knight to e4 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: pawn to f4 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to b8 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: rook to d7 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: bishop to e6 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (f8·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to a8 (a6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: rook to b6 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: pawn to f6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: knight to e6 (c5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: knight to g5 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 726 →