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Day 722: Simplification

Lesson of the day

Simplification is how you convert an advantage: by trading queens and rooks you extinguish the counterplay and steer the game into a won endgame. The rule is simple — the side with extra material trades pieces but keeps pawns. Look for exchanges once the material is already won and your opponent is still rattling threats. The mistake is avoiding the queen trade and letting him muddy the water forever.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: knight to d6 (b5·17)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b2·2)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to f8 (f6·2)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to b7 (a6·4)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to e6 (h3·5)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to e8 (e2·5)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to a6 (c5·5)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to d3 (c2·2)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·19)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·37)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Fork: queen to e5 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1636Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to h8 (d8·2)Shuffle Rating 1650Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to e6 (d7·4)Shuffle Rating 1650Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to g8 (c4·2)Shuffle Rating 1650Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to g6 (g3·9)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Trap the pawn on f4Shuffle Rating 1627Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to g6 (f5)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to d6 (b4·8)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to a3 (a2·2)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (e5·9)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·20)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d2 (f2·2)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to g1 (e1·3)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f3 (e5·3)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to d7 (g4·6)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 2: queen to c3Shuffle Rating 1776Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
27. Pin: bishop to e2Shuffle Rating 1827Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Fork: pawn to f4 (f2)Shuffle Rating 1874Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b2 (c1·3)Shuffle Rating 1620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: rook to a7 (a5·5)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 723 →