Open in the app

Day 507: Endgame tactic

Lesson of the day

Tactics do not retire when the queens come off: forks, pins and double attacks live on in the endgame. With so little material left, every tactical loss is almost always decisive. The signs are the usual ones — undefended pieces, king and piece on one line, a pawn about to promote. Even in a "technical" ending, scan for a shot before every move, both yours and your opponent's.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d5·5)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to f3 (f7)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to b8 (c6·3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·14)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (d3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to e5 (d3·9)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to c1 (b1·4)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to c2 (c1·4)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to f1 (g1·12)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·6)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: king to b2 (b1·8)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to f2 (f3·2)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to h3 (b3)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: king to d1 (c1·15)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to d6 (e4·8)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: rook to g5 (c5)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h3 (g2·2)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (d7)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (f6·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (b1·5)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f2 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: king to h2 (g1·33)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to h7 (h5)Shuffle Rating 1269Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to h8 (h7·6)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (h8)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: pawn to d7 (d6·11)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (c4·18)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (g1·4)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: rook to d5 (d1)Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: bishop to b8 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 508 →