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Day 911: 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. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (b2·3)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to b6 (b3·2)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (d6·3)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: bishop to g7 (c3)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to c8 (e7·8)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: bishop to a7Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to a8 (h1·6)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to d8 (c6·2)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to d6 (f8·2)Shuffle Rating 1860Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to a8 (a6·7)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: queen to e8 (c6·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to d8 (e7·8)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Pin: queen to c7Shuffle Rating 2023Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to c6 (a4·5)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to d8 (f6·4)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: rook to f3 (f8)Shuffle Rating 2001Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (c5·27)Shuffle Rating 1990Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: rook to g7 (g6·3)Shuffle Rating 1990Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to d3 (a3)Shuffle Rating 1990Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to g8 (b8·2)Shuffle Rating 1992Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: deflection on c5Shuffle Rating 1993Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: rook to g8 (g6·3)Shuffle Rating 1920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: rook to d8 (d1·10)Shuffle Rating 2003Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (d4·28)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: knight to f6 (e4·14)Shuffle Rating 1919Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f2·4)Shuffle Rating 2010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: queen to c7 (c6·7)Shuffle Rating 2060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Chess960 tactic on b7 (c6)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: knight to c4 (e5·5)Shuffle Rating 2100Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Chess960 tactic on g8 (g1)Shuffle Rating 2120Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 912 →