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Day 718: 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: knight to e4 (d2)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to b7 (e4·4)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to a7 (a6·3)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (e4·12)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to c6 (b6·2)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to d7 (e7·4)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to g8 (g6·5)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c3·7)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to c6 (a8)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to b6 (a4·2)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Fork: queen to d1 (d2)Shuffle Rating 1586Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: rook to b8 (b4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (c6·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Fork: queen to d4 (d8·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to g4 (h4·2)Shuffle Rating 1650Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: bishop to b5 (d7)Shuffle Rating 1622Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: rook to f3 (d3)Shuffle Rating 1624Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to b3 (b1·2)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to a5 (a1·2)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to g4 (g1·5)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to g3 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to b2 (c2)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to b1 (c1·12)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e7·3)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to c3 (b3·4)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (c3·4)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: rook to g1 (a1·2)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 3: knight to d6 (b7)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e7 (e3)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c3·4)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 719 →