Day 853: Back-rank mate
Target rating: 1801
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 f8 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (e8·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: knight to d7 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: rook to c7 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: knight to c3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (g7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: rook to b3 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (h7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: knight to g5 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Back-rank mate in 3 on h1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to e5 (a1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a4 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (g6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: rook to a8 (a3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to f5 (e3·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to e4 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to e5 (d5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to b8 (a8·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to f6 (f5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (e5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to e8 (e5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to c7 (b6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to d4 (c3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (f6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 854 →