Day 831: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 1771
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 d4 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: rook to g2 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: king to g1 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g5 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: rook to c7 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: pawn to d4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: rook to g4 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to b6 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to d3 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c7 (a5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to g8 (b3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (e7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: queen to c7 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (e5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to c7 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: queen to c7 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: knight to f6 (e4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: rook to d8 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to b6 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (d2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: queen to c7 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 832 →