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Day 583: Queen endgame

Lesson of the day

Queen endgames are treacherous: the queen reaches everywhere, and one slip turns a win into perpetual check. The signs are few pawns, exposed kings, and checks hanging in the air. Tuck your king away early, and use your own checks to bring the queen closer or push your passer with tempo. The typical mistake is grabbing pawns while leaving your king exposed to endless checks.

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (f4·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to b8 (h8)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (b5·27)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c6 (g2·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to e3 (d1·5)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b1·8)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to d5 (d2·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e3·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to g6 (g5·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to c8 (d6·9)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Fork: rook to d7Shuffle Rating 1351Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Fork: queen to f4Shuffle Rating 1376Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: king to b3 (a2·4)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (g1·11)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Fork: rook to e4Shuffle Rating 1392Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to h8 (h4·3)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b6·3)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (f2·6)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to g2 (h2·2)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (g8·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: bishop to e5 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1285Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d2·6)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Fork: queen to d3Shuffle Rating 1288Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to g8 (g4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (g4·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to g5 (g6)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 3: bishop to d6 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (d4·24)Shuffle Rating 1650Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Castling-960 to the rescue on h1 (g1·9)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f1 (e1·13)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 584 →