Day 957: Ladder mate
Target rating: 2011
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 d7 (d3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to e1 (g1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to g2 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (c5·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to c7 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (g5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to h3 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to c5 (e4·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to c5 (e6·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to g5 (e4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (a4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to h7 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to g7 (h8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (g8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to f6 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to e4 (c3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to g5 (e4·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (d4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to h6 (d2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to d7 (g4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to c3 (d2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (c5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 958 →