Basic checkmatesStep 2 of 6
The ladder mate
Two rooks, and a king pushed back step by step. The mate you can play without thinking.
You have two rooks and the enemy king is wandering in the middle of the board. How do you mate him? You do not chase him: you build a wall and push.
The principle is simple. A rook controls a whole rank. The king cannot cross it. You place your first rook on the rank in front of him, then check with the second — the king must step back one rank. Then you repeat. The king climbs step by step to the edge, where there is no step left. Hence the name: the ladder.
Demonstration — use the arrows
Use the ← and → arrow keys, or click a move in the list.
Move list
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
The classic error: putting a rook next to the king. He eats it. Keep your rooks far away — they control the entire rank anyway, so distance costs nothing.
Your turn
Your turn
White to move
Loading the board…
Move1 / 1
Attempts0
Play your move on the board: drag a piece, or tap it and then tap its destination square.
Start