Tactic Endgame Rating <1000

Back-rank Mate

A back-rank mate is a checkmate on the very back row, where the king is trapped behind its own pawns with nowhere to run. A rook or queen slides in to finish it. Giving your king a little escape square ahead of time prevents it.

Back-rank Mate — example position♚♟♟♟♜♚

Ra8 is checkmate: the black king is walled in by its own f7, g7 and h7 pawns and has no escape on the back rank.

Practise Back-rank Mate ▸Study this conceptGet a training plan

Source for further study: Polgar, Chess in 5334 Positions.

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