Day 811: Ladder mate
Target rating: 1721
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: knight to e6 (c7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: rook to f3 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: rook to d3 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: rook to d6 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to c8 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: pawn to g4 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to d6 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to e5 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: knight to e6 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: rook to f7 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to d4 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: rook to d8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to b6 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: rook to d1 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to h7 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to b6 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d7 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: pawn to c5 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: knight to a6 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: bishop to f7 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: bishop to d6 (b4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (h7·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 812 →