Back-rank mate exercises

A rook or queen mates on the last rank behind an unmoved pawn wall. Play the winning move on the board below. Each position is verified: the solution is the strongest move, and the write-up tells you exactly what it wins. Read the full back-rank mate guide first if the pattern is new to you.

Solved 0 of 6 · first-try accuracy 0%

1. Exercise 1: White to play: force mate.

   Position (FEN): 1k2K3/ppp5/8/8/1r5B/8/3R4/8 w - - 0 1

   8

   7

   6

   5

   4

   3

   2

   1a

   b

   c

   d

   e

   f

   g

   h

   White to play: force mate.

   easy · forced mate

   Hint 1Show solution
   Written solution

   Rd8# — Rd8# forces mate. Every black reply runs into the same net, so the game ends on the spot.

2. Exercise 2: White to play: force mate.

   Position (FEN): 6k1/5ppp/3P4/6p1/8/1R6/3K4/8 w - - 0 1

   8

   7

   6

   5

   4

   3

   2

   1a

   b

   c

   d

   e

   f

   g

   h

   White to play: force mate.

   easy · forced mate

   Hint 1Show solution
   Written solution

   Rb8# — Rb8# forces mate. Every black reply runs into the same net, so the game ends on the spot.

3. Exercise 3: White to play: force mate.

   Position (FEN): 1k6/ppp5/8/1K6/5Q2/8/6n1/8 w - - 0 1

   8

   7

   6

   5

   4

   3

   2

   1a

   b

   c

   d

   e

   f

   g

   h

   White to play: force mate.

   medium · forced mate

   Hint 1Show solution
   Written solution

   Qf8# — Qf8# forces mate. Every black reply runs into the same net, so the game ends on the spot.

4. Exercise 4: White to play: force mate.

   Position (FEN): 1k6/ppp1K3/8/3R4/8/3N4/8/8 w - - 0 1

   8

   7

   6

   5

   4

   3

   2

   1a

   b

   c

   d

   e

   f

   g

   h

   White to play: force mate.

   medium · forced mate

   Hint 1Show solution
   Written solution

   Rd8# — Rd8# forces mate. Every black reply runs into the same net, so the game ends on the spot.

5. Exercise 5: White to play: force mate.

   Position (FEN): 1k6/ppp4b/8/8/8/6K1/3Q2N1/8 w - - 0 1

   8

   7

   6

   5

   4

   3

   2

   1a

   b

   c

   d

   e

   f

   g

   h

   White to play: force mate.

   hard · forced mate

   Hint 1Show solution
   Written solution

   Qd8# — Qd8# forces mate. Every black reply runs into the same net, so the game ends on the spot.

6. Exercise 6: White to play: force mate.

   Position (FEN): 6k1/5ppp/2R5/4K3/3P4/8/8/2N5 w - - 0 1

   8

   7

   6

   5

   4

   3

   2

   1a

   b

   c

   d

   e

   f

   g

   h

   White to play: force mate.

   hard · forced mate

   Hint 1Show solution
   Written solution

   Rc8# — Rc8# forces mate. Every black reply runs into the same net, so the game ends on the spot.