CHESS40 العربية

Back-rank mate

When the king's own pawns lock it in

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Step 1

The black king hides behind three pawns. They protect it, but they also wall it in: it has no square to step to on the seventh rank.

White: King g1, Rook d1, Pawn f2, Pawn g2, Pawn h2. Black: King g8, Pawn f7, Pawn g7, Pawn h7. Marked: f7, g7, h7.a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Step 2

The rook reaches the back rank with check. The king cannot move, nothing can block or capture: checkmate.

White: King g1, Rook d1, Pawn f2, Pawn g2, Pawn h2. Black: King g8, Pawn f7, Pawn g7, Pawn h7.a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
Before
White: King g1, Rook d8, Pawn f2, Pawn g2, Pawn h2. Black: King g8, Pawn f7, Pawn g7, Pawn h7.a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
After

The moves: 1. Rd8#

Step 3

White to play: mate in one.

White: King g1, Rook e1, Pawn f2, Pawn g2, Pawn h2. Black: King g8, Pawn f7, Pawn g7, Pawn h7.a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

White to move.

Show the answer

Solution: 1. Re8#

Step 4

It works for Black too. Black to play: mate in one.

White: King g1, Pawn f2, Pawn g2, Pawn h2. Black: King g8, Rook e8, Pawn f7, Pawn g7, Pawn h7.h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8

Black to move.

Show the answer

Solution: 1… Re1#

Step 5

How does a player protect the king from a back-rank mate?

White: King g1, Rook d1, Pawn f2, Pawn g2, Pawn h2. Black: King g8, Pawn f7, Pawn g7, Pawn h7.a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
  1. Give it an escape square, for example with h3 or h6
  2. Keep every pawn on its first square
  3. Move the king into the corner
Show the answer

Answer: Give it an escape square, for example with h3 or h6

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