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Day 468: Minor-piece endgame

Lesson of the day

A minor-piece endgame leaves only bishops and knights with pawns, and geometry decides. The bishop loves an open board and play on both wings; the knight loves fixed pawns and outpost squares. Check which color squares the pawns stand on and where the knight can actually reach in time. Practical tip: against a knight, spread the play across both flanks — short legs cannot cover everything.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b1·2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to e6 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to c8 (a8)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to f6 (b2·4)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to a6 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to g5 (e7·2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to d7 (a7)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d2·5)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f8 (d8)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: bishop to g3 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to f5 (e3·17)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (e3·5)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Fork: pawn to c4Shuffle Rating 1387Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·27)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to f3 (e2·4)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (e1·4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Skewer: queen to d1Shuffle Rating 1223Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to e7 (f7·4)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d1 (f1·6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to h2 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (d1·4)Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (c8)Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: rook to c5Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Skewer: bishop to e3Shuffle Rating 1233Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Fork: queen to d4 (b4)Shuffle Rating 1288Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 3: knight to d2Shuffle Rating 1462Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b2 (b1·16)Shuffle Rating 1480Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (e4·7)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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