Learn How to Spot Back Rank Mate: X-Ray Attack
This middlegame puzzle is a classic example of a back rank mate pattern built around king safety and piece coordination. White’s heavy pieces dominate the open lines, and the key idea is to use a forcing check that drags a defender onto a square where it becomes overloaded. The position also features an x-ray attack, where one piece attacks through another to expose the king. In practical terms, the tactic wins because the enemy king has no luft and the back rank is fatally weak.