Day 48: Back-rank mate

Target Rating 664

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.

Types of the dayBack-rank mate Uncastled king Hanging piece

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f3Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

2. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (h6·2)Shuffle Rating 850 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (h1)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

4. Mate in 1: queen to f8 (f2)Shuffle Rating 850 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3·4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Mate in 1: queen to a8 (a6)Shuffle Rating 850 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g2Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

8. Mate in 1: queen to g8 (b8)Shuffle Rating 860 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (g2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d8 (a5·5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Back-rank mate in 3 on h3Shuffle Rating 890 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

12. Back-rank mate in 3 on f2 (b6·3)Shuffle Rating 893 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

13. Back-rank mate in 2 on e8 (e4)Shuffle Rating 894 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

14. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e2)Shuffle Rating 895 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

15. Mate in 2: rook to d1 (d8·3)Shuffle Rating 898 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

16. Attack on the uncastled king: king to e2Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e6Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (h1·5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (c4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (a1·19)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

24. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h4 (h1·16)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g2 (g3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to d4 (d3)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

27. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e3)Shuffle Rating 938 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

28. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (c2)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 1: queen to e4Shuffle Rating 862 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

30. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (d3·12)Shuffle Rating 863 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!