The Back Rank

Part of the Fundamentals section of Coddy's Chess journey. Lesson 27 of 46.

A castled king behind three pawns looks safe, but those pawns also block his way out. A rook or queen checking on the open back rank is mate. The cure is one pawn move called luft: an escape square for the king.

Try it yourselfBeginner

Position 1 of 6

WatchThe classic trap.

The starting position.

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All 6 positions

All lessons in Fundamentals

1The Board

Meet the Board Files and Ranks Naming Squares Setting Up Recap: The Board

4The King and the Pawn

The King The Pawn Pawn Captures The First Double Step Recap: King and Pawn

7Special Moves

Castling When You Cannot Castle Promotion En Passant Recap: Special Moves

2The Sliding Pieces

The Rook The Bishop The Queen Blocked Paths Recap: Sliding Pieces

5Captures and Check

How Captures Work What Pieces Are Worth Check Three Ways Out Moves You Cannot Play Recap: Check

8Writing Moves Down

Reading Moves Takes, Check and Mate Which Knight?Reading a Game Recap: Written Moves

3The Knight

The Knight's Jump Jumping Over Pieces Knights on the Rim Recap: The Knight

6Checkmate and Draws

CheckmateThe Back RankMate With Two Rooks Stalemate Other Draws Recap: Checkmate

9Your First Game

Control the Centre Get Your Pieces Out Castle Early The Scholar's Mate Project: The Opening