Bible Chess

Jericho Chess Puzzles: Back-rank mates

World 4 of 10 · 40 puzzles · Back-rank mates

Back-rank mates: a king hiding behind its own pawns has no way out when a Tower or Judge reaches the last rank. Find the move that breaks through, as the walls of Jericho fell.

Jericho, a world of Bible Chess
The story of Jericho told with chess pieces, picture 1 of 3
Forty years on, the promised land is in sight. Jericho’s walls stand in the way.
The story of Jericho told with chess pieces, picture 2 of 3
For six days they march around the walls in silence.
The story of Jericho told with chess pieces, picture 3 of 3
On the seventh day the trumpets sound. Behind his wall, the king is trapped.

Here are 6 of the 40 puzzles from this world, from first to last. Your pieces are gold and you move first; your side is at the bottom of the board. Missing squares are water: no piece can stand on them, the Tower, Prophet and Judge can’t cross them, and only the Scout jumps over.

Level 1 · Mate in 2

Moses is gone. Joshua leads the people now.

Gold: King g8, Judge h4. Stone: Judge d3, Shepherd g2, Shepherd h2, King h1.

Show the solution
  1. Judge h4 to e1. Stone answers: Judge d3 to f1.
  2. Judge e1 to f1, taking the Judge. Checkmate!
Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go across this Jordan, you, and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them, even to the children of Israel.
Joshua 1:2 · WEB

Level 9 · Mate in 2

The river stops. They cross on dry ground.

Gold: Judge f5, King g2. Stone: King g8, Shepherd f7, Shepherd g7, Shepherd h7, Scout c6.

Show the solution
  1. Judge f5 to c8. Stone answers: Scout c6 to d8.
  2. Judge c8 to d8, taking the Scout. Checkmate!
The priests who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the nation had passed completely over the Jordan.
Joshua 3:17 · WEB

Level 17 · Mate in 2

Day one: march around the city once.

Gold: Tower e8, King f8, Scout e4. Stone: Shepherd f2, Shepherd g2, Shepherd h2, King f1.

Show the solution
  1. Scout e4 to d2. Stone answers: King f1 to g1.
  2. Tower e8 to e1. Checkmate!
All of your men of war shall march around the city, going around the city once. You shall do this six days.
Joshua 6:3 · WEB

Level 24 · Mate in 2

A wall can become a trap.

Gold: Judge d2, Tower f1, King g1. Stone: King g8, Shepherd g7, Shepherd h7, Shepherd d5.

Show the solution
  1. Judge d2 to d5, taking the Shepherd. Stone answers: King g8 to h8.
  2. Tower f1 to f8. Checkmate!
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
Ecclesiastes 10:8 · WEB

Level 32 · Mate in 2

Three times around.

Gold: King g8, Shepherd d2, Judge f2. Stone: Shepherd g2, Shepherd h2, Tower d1, King h1.

Show the solution
  1. Judge f2 to e1. Stone answers: Tower d1 to e1, taking the Judge.
  2. Shepherd d2 to e1, taking the Tower, and is anointed Judge. Checkmate!
If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 · WEB

Level 40 · Mate in 2

Rahab and her family are kept safe.

Gold: King f7, Tower d5, Scout f4. Stone: Shepherd a2, Shepherd b2, Shepherd c2, King c1.

Show the solution
  1. Scout f4 to e2. Stone answers: King c1 to b1.
  2. Tower d5 to d1. Checkmate!
But Rahab the prostitute, her father’s household, and all that she had, Joshua saved alive. She lives in the middle of Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers, whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Joshua 6:25 · WEB

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