Day 52: Back-rank mate

Target Rating 665

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 Winning blow

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (f5·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (a6)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (e4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

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

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Winning blow: bishop to e8Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c7Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e3Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e1)Shuffle Rating 899 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

12. Back-rank mate in 2 on b8Shuffle Rating 903 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

13. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (g4)Shuffle Rating 905 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

14. Mate in 1: rook to d8 (d1·2)Shuffle Rating 913 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

15. Mate in 1: rook to e8 (e1·9)Shuffle Rating 913 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

16. Winning blow: queen to e5Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a8Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

18. Winning blow: pawn to d3Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (h5·5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Winning blow: pawn to d3 (c2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c3 (b2·6)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (h3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

24. Winning blow: pawn to e6Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a7Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (a1·7)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

27. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c3 (a1)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

28. Mate in 1: pawn to g5Shuffle Rating 944 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 1: rook to e8 (e1·6)Shuffle Rating 865 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

30. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (f3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!