Day 759: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 1616
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. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c7 (b6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: bishop to e5 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: king to f1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: bishop to d6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to e5 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f1·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to d6 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: bishop to g3 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to h7 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Back-rank mate in 3 on f2 (d2·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: pin on h8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: pawn to c3 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: bishop to d6 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to e1 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to e1 (a1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (f2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (d5·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (f5·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a4 (c2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to a6 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (f1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Fork: queen to b1 (b3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (g5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 760 →