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Day 758: 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: queen to h8 (h4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c7 (c1·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (c3·7)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (d6·10)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·21)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·57)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: pawn to g7 (f6·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to e4Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to b6 (e3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: rook to b8 (a8)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: queen to a4 (a1)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (e4·22)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to h7 (h6·6)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to e4 (e3·2)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Fork: queen to f5 (f3)Shuffle Rating 1767Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: bishop to e6 (c8)Shuffle Rating 1695Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Trap the rook on b1Shuffle Rating 1693Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (d5·21)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: bishop to b6 (d4·4)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to g5 (e3·2)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: rook to g4Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: bishop to e2Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a8 (b7)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (b6·5)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to a6Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Skewer: bishop to h4 (f6)Shuffle Rating 1829Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 3: rook to a7 (d7)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Fork: bishop to d4 (e5·3)Shuffle Rating 1940Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: queen to h5 (f3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: rook to b7Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 759 →