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Day 422: Passed pawn

Lesson of the day

A passed pawn has no enemy pawns in front of it or on the neighboring files: only pieces can stop it. Check who can blockade the pawn or catch it with the king — if nobody can, the pawn is worth a whole piece. Push the passer with your pieces supporting it, and put your rook behind it. The beginner's mistake is shoving the pawn forward unprotected, straight into a capture.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to f2 (g1·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to b4 (a3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to g1 (g7)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·55)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·12)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h8 (h5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·11)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to b5 (c3·6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to d7 (e5·9)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: pawn to d5Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·9)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to a7 (a6·4)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to a7 (a6·6)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (b3·15)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to d6 (b5·9)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to f6 (b2·5)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to e4 (c5·4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to d5 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (g1·6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d1 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to d3 (e3·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: bishop to d4Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: knight to c7 (a6)Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Castling-960 to the rescue on d1Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Castling-960 to the rescue on b1 (e1)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (b1·2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: queen to b6 (c7)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: pawn to c7Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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