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Volume II · Beginner
First checkmates
Back-rank mate, the two-rook ladder, mating with a queen or a rook, and Scholar’s Mate from both sides.
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- Back-rank mate When the king’s own pawns become its prison.
- The ladder: two rooks Two rooks walk the king to the edge, one rank at a time.
- Queen and king against king Box the king in with the queen, walk your king up, and mate on the edge.
- Rook and king against king Cut the king off with the rook, shrink the box with your king’s help, and mate on the edge.
- Stalemate tricks Leave the other king a move when you’re winning, and look for stalemate when you’re not.
- Scholar’s Mate, and how to stop it The four-move trap, from both sides of the board.