Back Rank Weakness

The Back Rank checkmate pattern is proof that your own pieces can sometimes work against you and help your opponent achieve their objective! It is the source of a common tactical idea know as a back rank weakness.

When you take advantage of a potential Back Rank Mate, without actually delivering the checkmate, it’s known as exploiting the back rank weakness.

In the illustrated position, My opponent's Back Rank Weakness dictates my course of action.

Of course the key to understanding this move lies in the follow-up move as follows

As always, I hope you will share back rank weaknesses exploited in your own games .