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Day 752: 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: pawn to e3 (d2·11)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to e3 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to e6 (g5·14)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (f4·25)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to f5 (c8·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (d3·9)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to b7 (a8·6)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d5 (h5·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to a5 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to e7 (f5·24)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Deflection: queen to e2Shuffle Rating 1688Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c8 (c7)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (f1)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: bishop to f5 (e4·4)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Pin: king to h6Shuffle Rating 1777Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: rook to e7 (b7)Shuffle Rating 1685Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: queen to d4 (f6)Shuffle Rating 1686Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to g8 (b3·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g7 (g1·3)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: knight to c4Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (a8·3)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a8 (a7·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: knight to g3 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 1633Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: knight to f5 (g7)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c4 (c1·8)Shuffle Rating 1790Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: rook to f3 (f8)Shuffle Rating 1877Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Fork: queen to f3 (f7)Shuffle Rating 1927Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: rook to b5 (b2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to e6 (g4·6)Shuffle Rating 1790Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 753 →