Day 807: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 1711
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 e7 (h4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 2: queen to e5 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to a5 (b6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (a8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to a8 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to c7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to g8 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: pawn to b3 (a2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Back-rank mate in 2 on c1 (c8·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: deflection on h3 (g5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (e4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (e2·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (c5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: queen to g7 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: pin on h3 (h4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to b4 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: pin on h3 (h6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: pawn to g4 (g5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: deflection on f8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Rescue the rook to b2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Trap the knight on c3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Fork: knight to d4 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: rook to g1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 808 →