Back-rank mate
The back-rank mate strikes a king hiding safely behind its own pawns, right until a rook or queen slides in on the open rank behind it. It may be the most common mate in all of chess.
Try to deliver the mate
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Your turn: find the move that delivers checkmate. Drag the piece to the right square.
How to deliver it
The king on g8 is trapped behind its own pawns on f7, g7 and h7. The rook races to a8 and gives check along the open back rank. The pawns that were meant to protect the king now block its only escape squares. Checkmate.
How to defend
The defence is cheap and simple: give the king an escape hatch. Play a little pawn move, for example h6, in good time, so the king always has a square to run to when the rook arrives. And keep a rook or piece guarding your own back rank.