Day 918: Ladder mate
Target rating: 1938
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. Winning blow: queen to g7 (g6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (d5·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (a1·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to d8 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (d5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to c3 (b3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to a2 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to e8 (b8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e6·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to d8 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (d3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: double attack on e8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: rook to h4 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d6 (f4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Chess960 tactic on g6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Pin: rook to g6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: bishop to f3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: pawn to d6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: queen to e5 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to d4 (a1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: knight to f6 (h5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to b2 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (b3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 919 →