CHESMAYNE
Back Rank ++CM, ++BR
A KI checkmated on Rank-01 or 08 by a RO or QU on this same
rank. It often happens that the KI
cannot move forward due to an obstruction of his own mps. The KI, RE,
GE
etc being checkmated [++CM] on the first rank. Checkmate by a QU (QU1, QU2 etc) along
Rank-08, where the KI is blocked by his own mps. ++
Below: your next weapon is the
Guillotine. In the French Revolution
the guillotine was used for killing KIs and noblemen. You press a
button and the blade comes down, chopping the KIs
head off. Nasty! In chess, the guillotine can be operated by
the RO or the QU. Here’s how
it works. :B has castled and has three PAs in front of h/er KI. As you
do. He has just moved h/er RO off the ‘back rank’ to capture a PA on cell B02. But now A-RO on cell/square D01 can move all
the way down the board to D08 and
deliver ++CM. Nowhere to run, nowhere
to hide!
Below left: the Guillotine can also look like this. :B has moved a PA8
to cell/square H06, but he still cannot escape because of the BS on cell/square
D03. You can often stop the guillotine
(it’s really called a ‘Back Rank Mate, ++BR) by moving up a PA, but not in this
example. Below right: here is another example for
you. Again the B-KI cannot escape. Question: so, how can you make sure your KI
doesn’t lose his head to the guillotine?
First of all, keep a RO next to your KI early in the game. Later on in the game, when you want to use
your RO to attack, it is usually a good idea to move a PA up and give your KI
an escape cell/square, but you have to be careful which one you choose.
Here is another example of a
++BR. In this example the RO gives
++CM. The KI cannot escape because
A-PA1, PA2 and PA3 are in his way. This
is a ‘Back Rank Checkmate’.
Back rank mate
A checkmate carried out by a QU or a RO on the first or eighth rank.
Back
Rank Mate: A ++CM by QU or RO along the back rank, typically, but not necessarily, with
the PAs in front of the KI unmoved. For instance, White RO on A08, Black KI on G08, Black PAs on F07, G07, H07.
