Back-rank mate: a common chess weakness

Your rook lands on their back rank for mate

Their king sits on the back rank, pawns in front. A rook or queen to the back rank is mate. You miss the pattern.

• vs blitz game: rook swing to the eighth rank ended the game on the spot. Missed it for two moves and the chance was gone.
• vs puzzle: deflect the defender, slide the rook home, mate.