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Day 677: 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. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d4·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (d1·6)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to f7 (g8·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to f8 (d8·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f1·9)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to h7 (g6·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (e2·5)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to g8 (g1·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to d4 (e3·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f6·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: queen to e3 (g3)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to e6 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to d6 (b8·3)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to a8 (d5·5)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to g6 (h6·4)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: queen to f7 (h5)Shuffle Rating 1556Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: pawn to g4 (g2·3)Shuffle Rating 1555Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (d5·19)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: knight to c8Shuffle Rating 1434Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to f7 (e6·3)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (e6·3)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to b3 (a3·5)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (e6·2)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (e4·13)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: knight to c7 (a8)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Discovered attack: rook to b7Shuffle Rating 1687Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b3 (c2·6)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 3: rook to c6 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: rook to b7 (b6·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to c8 (f8·2)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 678 →