Open in the app

Day 760: 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. Mate in 3: rook to d8 (d7)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (h1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: pawn to d3 (c2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: rook to g8 (g2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (c4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to h7 (h5·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: knight to b5 (c3·5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (e2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (d2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: rook to g7 (f7)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 3: rook to e2Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to d1 (c1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: rook to g6 (h6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to f8 (h8)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to g3 (c7)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to h5 (d1·3)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h1·11)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Discovered attack: bishop to g6Shuffle Rating 1706Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (a5·3)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to h5 (f3·5)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to g8 (h7·8)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to a8 (a1·11)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to b3 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (a6·11)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to a5 (b3·7)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Discovered attack: pawn to f6Shuffle Rating 1838Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (e7)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Fork: queen to h3Shuffle Rating 1907Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·62)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (h7·20)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 761 →