Day 760: Ladder mate
Target rating: 1618
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. Mate in 3: rook to d8 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: pawn to d3 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: rook to g8 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to h7 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: knight to b5 (c3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: rook to g7 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: rook to e2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to d1 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: rook to g6 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to f8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to g3 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to h5 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Discovered attack: bishop to g6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (a5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to h5 (f3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to g8 (h7·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to a8 (a1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to b3 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (a6·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to a5 (b3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 761 →