Day 895: Ladder mate
Target rating: 1896
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: pawn to h6 (h7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 2: discovered attack on h3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to h6 (h1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f3·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to d4 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to d8 (h8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to g4 (g3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to h5 (h4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to h5 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: pawn to g7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: rook to g6 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: knight to b4 (c6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to f1 (b5·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: rook to g6 (b6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: knight to f6 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: bishop to e4 (h1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to e5 (a1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: knight to b6 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: rook to f1 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (h6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (h7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (f8·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: queen to d6 (c5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 896 →