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Day 283: Ladder mate

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. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (d5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b2 (d3·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f1·8)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (c3·33)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h3 (g3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (f2·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (c2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (c2·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e1 (f1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (g5·3)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to a4Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 2: queen to e6 (b3)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to c5 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to h6 (e3)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Deflection: bishop to d3Shuffle Rating 971Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: queen to e6Shuffle Rating 1052Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Discovered attack: pawn to d4Shuffle Rating 1052Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to b5 (a4·2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c2 (d4)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to a4 (a3)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Discovered attack: bishop to f2 (c5)Shuffle Rating 1039Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: king to e2 (f1·4)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d3 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: king to e2 (f1·5)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to c5 (e3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: queen to a5 (c3)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 2: king to a1Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: queen to a1 (b1)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (d3·15)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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