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Rating 980Black to move. Mate in three.
Puzzle
Black to move. Mate in three.
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Back-rank mate puzzles
A back-rank mate happens when a king is boxed in behind its own pawns and a rook or queen checks along the last rank. It decides games at every level.
- 25,886 puzzles
- Average rating 955
How to spot a back-rank mate
- The king has no way outIts own pawns on the second rank block every escape square.
- The last rank is thinly guardedCount the pieces that defend it. One defender is often not enough.
- A sacrifice removes the guardGiving up a queen or rook can pull the last defender away.