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Day 889: 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 a6 (a5·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f8·5)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (g2·2)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to f4 (e3·12)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to b3 (a4·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to f6 (f7)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d5·15)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to h4 (g2·2)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d3·9)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to e6 (c6·2)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: knight to g5 (f3·12)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f6·6)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to g6 (e6·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (d8)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to f8 (e6·8)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (f4·3)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a7 (a6)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (b3)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: queen to g8 (g3)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to h5 (e2·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to e5 (g3·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (b4·2)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: rook to d8 (d3·4)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to f1 (e1·8)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to a7 (e3·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Discovered attack: knight to f6 (e4·4)Shuffle Rating 1970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (h5·7)Shuffle Rating 1988Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: pawn to c8 (c7·5)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: double attack on d6Shuffle Rating 1881Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: queen to c7 (c4·2)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 890 →