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Day 634: King march

Lesson of the day

The king march: in the endgame the king is a fighting piece, and often it is his journey forward that wins. It is time to march when the queens are off and checks hold no danger — the king attacks pawns, escorts the passer, takes squares away. The telltale sign of the theme is several king moves in a row. Plan the full route in advance using the rule of the square, and do not let the enemy king grab the opposition.

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (g2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (f3·4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (f7·6)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (d6·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 2: bishop to d7 (f5·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (h4·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d3·4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (d4·30)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (d8·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·31)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to g3 (f2·6)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: king to c3 (d2·8)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·25)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to b1 (a1·7)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (b7)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to h3 (h6)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to c8 (c5·2)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (h6·3)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to f4 (c1·6)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to h6 (e3·7)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d7 (e7·3)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (b4·3)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·17)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to b2 (b3)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (c3·5)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: queen to g8 (e6·2)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (g5·4)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: pin on f2Shuffle Rating 1572Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 635 →