Chess For Novices - A Guide for Fresh Beginners and Aspiring Novices
Main Menu Basics - Tactics - Strategy - Openings - Places to Play - Improvement Main Menu


Chess Back Rank Checkmates - Exercises Page 1

Each exercise looks at a different theme associated with back rank mates.


Exercise 1 - Ineffective Interposition

Files
Ranks Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Ranks
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Files
White to Play

This first exercise looks at the theme of interposition moves. Black appears to defend the back rank with his Rook and Bishop. Can white mate on the back rank?


Exercise 2 - Effective Interposition

Files
Ranks Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Ranks
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Files
White to Play

Here's another example where black has several interposition moves. Can white mate on the back rank?


Exercise 3 - Counting

Files
Ranks Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Ranks
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Files
White to Play

White has a huge battery set up, and is ready to drive down to the back rank. But black has multiple defenders ready to come to his King's aid. Can white deliver checkmate?


Exercise 4 - Removing the Guard

Files
Ranks Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Ranks
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Files
White to Play

This time 1. Rd8+ doesn't work (calculate it out in your head to verify). Black's two Rooks both defend the d8 square. How can white use the removal of the guard idea to checkmate on the back rank.


Exercise 5 - Driving the King Away

Files
Ranks Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Ranks
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board Chess Board
Files
White to Play

White has a tricky move to drive the black King into a vulnerable position. See if you can find it.


Answers

Ex 1: Yes. White mates with 1. Ra8+. Black has two useless interpositions: 1... Bb8 2. Rxb8+ Rc8 3. Rxc8#.

Ex 2: In this case, the answer is no. If white plays 1. Ra8+, black can successfully interpose with 1... Rd8 or 1... Bd8. The key difference between Ex 1 and Ex 2 is that in the latter, both black's pieces can interpose on the same square. The Rook and Bishop each provide support to the blocking d8 square.

Ex 3: Yes. White attacks the d8 square 3 times, while black defends it twice. White wins with 1. Rd8+ Rxd8 2. Rxd8+ Rxd8 3. Qxd8#.

Ex 4: White wins with 1. Qxb8+! Rxb8. And now white has two rooks attacking the back rank, while black has only one. The game ends with 2. Rd8+ Rxd8 3. Rxd8#.

Ex 5: The winning move is 1. Ne7+ Kh8 driving the King back into the corner. White then mates with 2. Rxf8#.

Back - Next
Chess Tactics - Table of Contents
Introduction - What Are Tactics?
Piece Safety - Exercises (1) - Exercises (2)
Counting - Exercises (1) - Exercises (2)
Tactical Motifs Introduction
The Fork - Exercises
The Knight Fork - Exercises
The Pin - Exercises
The Skewer - Exercises
The Discovered Attack - Exercises
Removal of the Guard - Exercises
Back Rank Checkmates - Exercises (1) - Exercises (2)
Conclusion

links - sitemap - faq - contact - about - legal

copyright 2024 - avatara software