Day 65: Back-rank mate

Target Rating 686

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: bishop to e3 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

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

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a6 (b5·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

4. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d4 (d1)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·23)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (c1)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f7Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (g5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c2Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 3: fork on f7Shuffle Rating 915 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

12. Back-rank mate in 2 on e8 (e1)Shuffle Rating 922 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

13. Back-rank mate in 1 on d1 (d8)Shuffle Rating 925 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

14. Back-rank mate in 2 on e6Shuffle Rating 926 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

15. Mate in 1: rook to g1 (g7)Shuffle Rating 935 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (d5·9)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e3Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·11)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (a1)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (a3·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a1Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h7 (g5·12)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·9)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (f6)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: rook to h5 (c5)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

27. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c3 (b4)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

28. Skewer: rook to e8Shuffle Rating 871 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a2 (b1)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

30. Winning blow: knight to f8Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!