Chapter 07 · Early intermediate · 5 min
Back-rank mate
Back-rank mate punishes a king trapped behind its own pawns. A rook or queen enters, and the exits are closed.
Explanation
The back-rank mate punishes a king stuck behind his pawns.
When the opposing king is on the last rank and his own pawns block the escape squares, a rook or a queen can checkmate on this rank. The king is attacked, but he cannot climb.
To avoid this mate, players often create a small escape square with a pawn. It is not glamorous, but it is very useful when an enemy rook arrives.
To remember
Corridor checkmate occurs when the king is blocked behind his own pawns.
Classic error
Forget to create an escape square for your king.
Player Tip
A small pawn move in front of the king can sometimes avoid a checkmate later.