10 back rank mates rated between 2200 and 3500, averaging 2274. Each position below is from a real game, with the solution given underneath — so you can check yourself immediately rather than guessing whether you were right.
A back rank mate exploits a king trapped behind its own unmoved pawns. The pattern is worth knowing in both directions: it is the most common mate in club chess, and the reason a single luft move can be worth a tempo.
These are pitched at 2200+-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players around 2200+ solve about half the time, so if you are getting most of these you should move up a band.
Solving from a page is good for pattern recognition but not for tracking progress. The rated puzzle trainer serves puzzles matched to your own rating and adjusts as you solve, and the Mistake Trainer builds puzzles from positions you actually got wrong in your own games.
Qxf7+ Kh8 Bf8 Qxf8 Qxf8+ Nxf8 Rxf8#
Rd1+ Qxd1 Qxf2+ Kh1 Qf1+ Qxf1 Rxf1#
Qf5+ Kg8 Qe6+ Kh8 Qe8+ Rxe8 Rxe8#
Ne6 Nxe6 Bxg7+ Nxg7 Qf8+ Rxf8 Rxf8#
Rxf8+ Nxf8 Qf7+ Kh8 Qxf8+ Rxf8 Rxf8#
Qd3+ Ka1 Rf1+ Rxf1 Qxf1+ Bd1 Qxd1#
Qxf2+ Rxf2 Rc1+ Rf1 Bxe3+ Kh1 Rxf1#
Qc1+ Rd1 Qe3+ Kh1 Qe1+ Rxe1 Rxe1#
Nf7+ Rxf7 Qxc8+ Bxc8 Re8+ Rf8 Rxf8#
Qd5+ Re6 Qd7+ Re7 Qxe7+ Kg8 Qe6+ Kh8 Qxc8#
Train back rank mate puzzles at your rating →
A back rank mate exploits a king trapped behind its own unmoved pawns. The pattern is worth knowing in both directions: it is the most common mate in club chess, and the reason a single luft move can be worth a tempo.
Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players rated around 2200+ solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2274, so they suit 2200+-rated players.
Yes. Every puzzle on this page, including its solution, is free to view with no account. The rated trainer that tracks your progress and serves puzzles matched to your rating is part of Chess Ramp Premium.