Day 783: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 1676
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: rook to f8 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to d7 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to g7 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: queen to d5 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: knight to e6 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to g5 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 2: king to g1 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: king to f2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: knight to f7 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: queen to c3 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (f1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to a5 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d7 (b5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (h6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to e8 (b5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (b4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to e4 (g5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (f2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to f3 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to e4 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to c5 (c1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (d1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to h6 (g6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 784 →