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Day 680: 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: queen to h4 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to g6 (f6·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to c6 (b6·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 2: queen to h8 (h3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to d1 (b1·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d7·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: bishop to a5 (d8)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to b7 (a8·5)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to f8 (d8·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (d2·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: pawn to h6 (h5·3)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to a2 (b4)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Fork: knight to d4 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1611Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Trap the bishop on d6Shuffle Rating 1638Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Win the hanging king on c3Shuffle Rating 1684Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to e8 (g7·2)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f1·18)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to h8 (d4·4)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to e1 (a1·8)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (e4·12)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to b4 (b1·2)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (c5·7)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to b4 (e1·6)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to b6 (c5·2)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to a5 (d2)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h4 (h1·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (f3·9)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Fork: knight to e4 (f6·2)Shuffle Rating 1808Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: rook to h6 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 1650Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: knight to e5 (d3·17)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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