Checkmate Patterns · Lesson 38 of 92
The Ladder Mate
Two rooks work like a ladder: one cuts off a rank, the other checks. Climb the final rung.
Find the winning move
Show the solution
Rb8#! The rook on a7 seals the 7th rank; the other delivers mate on the 8th. This wins countless endgames.
Watch it play out
The position, then the answer.
The complete guide
This drill is one step. The full write-up — every rule, every pattern, every common mistake — is in the complete guide.
Practise this on a live board
This lesson is one of 92 in the Grandmaster Academy — every one playable, with the pieces moving under your hand.
♔ Practise this lesson free