Day 847: Ladder mate
Target rating: 1646
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: queen to b8 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: rook to c4 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: pawn to e3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: bishop to c5 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: knight to c6 (e7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: rook to b7 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to b1 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: bishop to b4 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: knight to f5 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to c8 (c7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: queen to f4 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a6 (a5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to f3 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: rook to b8 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: queen to d7 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: rook to d7 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to g8 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 848 →